A total of 39 rivers including six large rivers and 33 tributaries are being flown through the Panchgarh district. Of the rivers- a section of vested quarters was excavating sand-stones in defiance of the government regulations from beds of the Dahuk River, Karotoa River, Versa River, Gobra River and Mohananda River.
In defiance of the ban on an unplanned excavation of sand and stones and carrying those, the very vested quarters were engaged in excavating and carrying those indiscriminately round the clock.
As a result of such unplanned excavation of sandstones, the normal flows of the rivers Dahuk, Gobra, Karotoa and Versa are being changed and the croplands situated beside those rivers are facing erosion.
But, due to the total influence of the said vested quarters, the affected Tea Garden owners and the croplands have turned helpless.
On the other hand, in defiance of the order of the local administration, those vested quarters also conducting their trade in sand and stone by dumping those beide Panchgarch-Banglabandha Highway.
They were loading and unloading the trucks on the highway in front of the Highway police causing huge suffering for the movement of other vehicles and the local people.
As a result, the common vehicles and people are facing frequent accidents.
Acting on a tip-off, the Upazila Administration seized six stone carrier trolleys from the Dahuk River and took those to the Upazila Parishad premises in March-7,2024. Earlier on February-16,2024, six more trolleys were seized from the Dahuk River.
Later, the owners of the trolleys submitted a written pledge to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and the Executive Magistrate Fazley Rabbi not to be involved with the excavation of stone.
They were also fined Tk 50,000 each.
UNO Fazley Rabbi in this connection said, despite a ban from the court, the excavation of sand and stone from the rivers is continuing. The trolleys were seized to stop the illegal excavation of sand and stones from the river, he added.
