Photo:

Zahangir Shah

Our Correspondent, Manikiganj

Locals in Joynagar area of Manikganj municipality are speculating that the unusual erosion of hundreds of bighas of croplands in the area along the Kaliganga river is a result of illegal and indiscriminate dredging in the river by unscrupulous sand traders.

As the illegal sand lifting continues without any action from law enforcers or the administration for long, nearby Beutha bridge on the river, hundreds of houses and croplands in a larger area are now under erosion threat, they said.

The ‘Balu Mohal O Mati Babosthapona Ain (Sand Fields and Soil Management Act), 2010’ prohibits the extraction of sand or soil within one kilometre of a bridge, culvert, dam, barrage, embankment, road, highway, forestland, rail track, and other important government and non-government establishments or residential areas.

While the illegal sand extraction continues, Joynagar and its adjacent areas -- Andharamanik, Char Beutha, Bandutia and Pauli -- have been witnessing severe erosion of the river.

Aside from Joynagar, the densely populated area between Beutha bridge and Tara bridge is also within close proximity of the illegal sand extraction site.

Although the authorities concerned had been informed multiple times of the illegal activities that had been putting public and private properties at risk for years, they never took any action, alleged locals, adding that the dredger operators even issued threats on anyone who had dared to raise objection against the unauthorised dredging in the river.

Requesting anonymity, a number of locals alleged that influential activists of the political party in power have been causing damage to the area and the river for their personal gains.

Since many locals faced repercussions before, no one nowadays dares to protest or even talk to journalists regarding the unlawful activities, they also said.

On behalf of the locals, Manikganj town Mayor Ramzan Ali on July 7 petitioned the Manikganj Deputy Commissioner to stop the dredging in the Kaliganga river and build embankments on its banks to save the area from erosion.

Many important structures and establishments including Beutha bridge, Joynagar Government Primary School, Joynagar High School, Municipal Water Pump, Dr Joseph Memorial Hospital and various businesses including a good number of restaurants along the river bank -- in Joynagar, Andharamanik, Char Beutha and Pauli areas under Manikganj municipality -- are now under erosion threat due to the lifting of sand from the river.

Unless the sand extraction is stopped urgently, the establishments as well as properties and livelihoods of 25,000 residents of these areas will be lost to the river, he also said in the petition.

Contacted, the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner in Manikganj Muhammad Abdul Latif said no one can do dredging in the river by harming the area and violating the law. “I’ve already instructed the upazila nirbahi officer to do what is necessary in the public interest.”

As the illegal sand lifting continues without any action from law enforcers or the administration, nearby Beutha bridge on the river, hundreds of houses and croplands are now under erosion threat.