S DILIP ROY, Lalmonirhat

Ignoring a government ban, organised groups are allegedly extracting stones from the Dharla, Saniajan, and Singimari rivers, causing severe environmental damage in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila.

Despite drives by the local administration to curb the illegal activity, syndicates remain active in at least 30 villages, alleged locals.

Extractors are lifting stones along with large amounts of sand, which they pile up to obstruct the rivers’ channels. In addition to the river areas, unscrupulous businesspeople have expanded their operations into nearby arable lands.

The local administration has expressed concern that a significant portion of Patgram upazila is at risk of a major landslide, as mechanical extractors, including dredgers, are lifting stones from the rivers and adjacent areas at depths of over 100 metres, creating hollow spaces underground.

“The district and upazila administrations conduct regular drives against them, but somehow they continue their activities with political backing,” said UNO Jillur Rahman of Patgram.

Citing an example, he said although 50 stone-extracting dredgers were destroyed during several drives last month, some unscrupulous people continued operations at night.

Lalmonirhat Water Development Board Executive Engineer Shunil Kumar said stone extraction should not be carried out without assessing the soil structure. “The three rivers in Patgram are nearly dead due to illegal stone extraction,” he added.

Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ashrafuzzaman Sarker said police had lodged four cases against illegal extractors in the past month.

“Illegal stone extraction from the rivers is the main problem in Patgram. Dodging strict vigilance, syndicate members continue extracting stones at night,” he said.

Locals alleged that whichever political party comes to power, its members take control of stone extraction from the rivers. The syndicates, they claimed, always manage to gain the support of ruling party figures to continue their illegal business.

Without political backing, no one would dare to extract stones, they said. Fearing the influence and ruthlessness of the extractors, locals avoid protesting and instead demand strict action to stop the illegal activity immediately.

Asked why the illegal practice could not be stopped, Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner and District River Protection Committee President H M Raqib Hayder said most individuals involved in illegal stone extraction had direct or indirect political affiliations.

“They are accustomed to making huge sums through illegal extraction. We have decided to take stern action to protect the environment and the rivers,” he said.