Ponds are being dug illegally by cutting top soil of crop fields in different areas of Chatmohar Upazila in Pabna. Excavators dig the ponds day and night and the soil is sold to a few brick kilns in the area. The soil of the river is also being cut. Roads are collapsing due to soil transportation by trucks and trolleys. The environment of the area is being damaged by dust and sand.
On Monday afternoon, going to the south side of the road towards Binyabari from Chinabhatkur Mouzar Kuzo junction of Nimaichra Union of the Upazila, it was seen that the cropland of the field was being cut and dug by the excavator machine. The work of cutting the soil with machines without permission is going on for the last three days. A few mini trucks take the soil to the adjacent brick kiln. On inquiry, it was found that a soil trader named Azmat Ali was cutting soil and selling it. In this regard, Azmat Ali said, he does not have permission to cut the soil.
Besides, soil traders are cutting and selling soil from various fields including Boilermari, Sonahar Para. Shafiqul Islam, director of the private organization PCD, started digging the pond at Chiril Beel on Saturday afternoon. When the farmers of the area complained, the Upazila executive officer stopped it immediately.
Local residents said that the owners of crop land are selling the soil in agreement with the local soil traders. Roads are being damaged due to various vehicles carrying soil. Besides, while carrying the soil, there is a fear of people who walk in the dust and suffering from various diseases including breathing problems.
According to sources, each truck of soil is being sold at 600 to 700 taka. Each mini truck full of soil is being sold for around 2 thousand rupees. Crops in the surrounding land are also being damaged while carrying the soil. After informing the Upazila administration officials, some people stopped digging the pond. After a few days he started again. This is how the festival of digging ponds and selling soil is going on.
In this regard, Chatmohar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanzina Khatun said, "Whenever we get news of pond digging in cropland, we stop it. There is no legal system. I will inquire now and take necessary action in this regard.
