Illegal sand extraction rampant in Dhalai River

Illegal sand extraction, using heavy machineries at Dhalai river in Sylhet's Companiganj upazila is posing serious threat to the environment and Dhalai bridge over the river.

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.

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 434.35 metre bridge was constructed in 2003-06 and it is the only road connection to hundreds of villages of three bordering unions of the upazila.

Babul Miah, chairman of Purbo Islampur Union Parishad, said the bridge is at high risk as sand is being extracted recklessly, breaking the law. He feared that the bridge might collapse anytime as the water flow of the river is increasing.

On July 3, hundreds of locals formed a human chain near the bridge, demanding that the illegal sand extraction from near and under the bridge 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.

Local sand extractors on June 1 filed petition to divisional commissioner, deputy commissioner and several other government offices demanding that they take necessary actions to stop illegal sand extraction using dredging machines.

Abdus Sattar, president of Ekota Balu Uttolon and Khudro Byabosayi Somobay Samity, said thousands of labourers, who used to extract sand manually, are now unemployed.

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's (Bapa) Sylhet chapter, said unplanned and illegal sand extraction at Dhalai 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 Sylhet region and these must be regulated in stricter way, implementing all the existing laws effectively,” he said.

Locals form a human chain on the Dhalai bridge, demanding immediate stop to sand extraction around the bridge. Photo: Sheikh Nasir

Companiganj upazila administration has started a drive forming mobile courts against the illegal sand extraction but despite the drive, extraction continues, even in the night.

According to the administration, a total of Tk 1.60 lakh has been fined by the court and it also seized a boat and destroyed some sand extraction machines, locally called “Boma Machine”.

Masud Rana, acting upazila nirbahi officer and assistant land commissioner of the upazila, said the administration recently put up "red flag", measuring the one kilometre restricted area of the bridge, and took strict measures to stop illegal sand extraction in the river and the surrounding areas.