Department of Environment sues 22 people to cut a hill after constructed walls around the place
By Zeba Tarannum
The rogues have started cutting down the hills and building houses after constructed walls around the area in the village of Salimpur under Salimpur Union, Shitakunda, Chattogram. The Department of Environment has filed a case against 22 people on September 13, 2020, for trying to cut down the hill.
Earlier on June 24, the Upazila Administration and the Department of Environment’s joint operation evicted Illegal houses and structures built by cutting down the hills in the same place. After this incident, hill cutting and house construction stopped for some time, but the rogues became active again.
Harun-Or-Rashid, inspector of the Department of Environment, Chattogram filed the case to the local police station and accused Md. Nasir Uddin (48), Chairman of M Noor (Pvt) Ltd., Tajul Islam of Taj Marine Store, and 20 more people in the case.
As per the case statement, the accused were constructing houses by cutting 3-4 acres of hills of 50-80 feet height of BS 359 and 361 of Khatiyan 386, 388, 548, 537, and 598 of Jungle Salimpur Mouza without the approval of the government.
Upon receiving such news, the officers of the Department of Environment visited the spot on March 14. They were filling the low lands with the soil of the hill. Officers found this evidence during their field inspections.
Then, on June 28, under the District and Upazila administration’s leadership, the Department of Environment evicted the installations, including the houses. During the last inspection on November 10, the officers saw that the accused had started constructing brick walls around the place.
In the meantime, some houses have already been rebuilt. As a result, the case was filed under section 6(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 2010.
Sumon Banik, Police Inspector (Investigation), Shitakunda, said the case was recorded at the police station on Friday. The Officer in Charge of the Department of Environment will investigate the case.
