In Chatmohar of Pabna, there are allegations of digging ponds freely in different water bodies and crop lands. A group of influential are also cutting soil from Gumani River and selling it. The soil of the excavated pond is being sold in trucks and trolleys at unauthorized brickfields. There is no government approval for digging the pond. Although the soil is sold by digging ponds with excavators day and night, no action is being taken against such acts.
In can be seen at Binyabari Gournagar Chayani Beel in Nimaichara Union of the upazila on Monday that a pond was being dug by cutting the crop land with an excavator without any legal approval. Soil is being sold and then carried by mini trucks and trolleys made by shallow engine in different places including local brick kilns. There is no way to understand from a distance as there is low land in the middle of the bill. It was found out that some people including Liton, Babu, Saiful were involved in cutting and selling this soil. Due to the removal of soil, the surrounding crop lands and roads are being damaged. Even at night the soil is cut. A temporary house with straw has been built next to it for staying the night.
"We have the approval,” said Liton. When they were ask to show papers to prove their claim, they handed over a DCR form of 2020. Upon asked that if this is still valid or not, no answer was given.
According to the information, ponds have been dug in Langalmora Beel of Chaikola union, Chiril Beel of Mathurapur union, Khairash and Katakhali of Dibigram union and different beels of Katakhali, Haripur, Nimaichara and Handial union of the upazila in the last few days without any kind of approval.
According to the locals, the owner of the crop land is doing this by signing an agreement with the local soil trader to cut the soil. Extreme damage is being done to the main road and other public roads due to the impact of the heavy vehicles. Besides, this vehicles are spilling soil and dust everywhere and respiratory issues are occurring due to the dust pollution.
According to multiple sources, crop lands in the area is being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 600 per cart. The soil sold by carts is going to different places including brick kilns. Due to all these vehicles the roads are becoming impassable. The surrounding lands are also being damaged. After informing the officials of the upazila administration, they stopped digging the pond. After a while, the activities started again . This is how the festival of digging ponds and selling soil of crop lands is going on.
Chatmohar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanzina Khatun said, "We are sending people to search now. Whenever we get news, we intervene immediately to protect the environment. Legal action is also being taken against them. A fine of Tk 15,000 has already been imposed at two places in Mulgram and Dibigram Union.”