Ashad Talukder: According to the “Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act 2010”, no sand can be extracted from river within one kilometre of any important government infrastructure like a bridge.
Illegal sand extraction, using heavy machineries at Sumeshwory river in Netrakona’s Durgapur upazila is posing serious threat to the environment and Sumeshwory bridge over the river.
Defying the law, some illegal sand traders are using heavy machineries like dredger and extracting sand from the river, too close to the bridge; they are even extracting sand from under it.
The bridge is the main road connection to district sadar and the capital.
The bridge is at high risk as sand is being extracted recklessly, breaking the law. The bridge might collapse anytime as the water flow of the river is increasing.
On July 17, hundreds of locals formed a human chain , demanding that the illegal sand transportation be stopped immediately.
Talking to locals, this correspondent learned that they had been extracting sand manually for decades but in recent years, some traders started using heavy machines to extract sand, driving the manual extractors out of business.
Several other government offices demanding that they take necessary actions to stop illegal sand extraction using dredging machines.
Sand extractors said thousands of labourers, who used to extract sand manually, are being employed.
Many of environment activists said, “unplanned and illegal sand extraction at Sumeshwory river is not only posing threat to the bridge but also causing severe damage to the river and the local biodiversity. Illegal sand and stone extraction has become a serious threat to the environment of Durgapur and these must be regulated in stricter way, implementing all the existing laws effectively.”
They alleged that the local administrations are turning a blind eye towards such illegal activities, and are reluctant to take any steps against the perpetrators, who are influential people.
