DoE fines Halda Tea Valley for razing hill

Department of Environment (DoE), Chattogram region, yesterday fined Halda Tea Valley Tk 4 lakh for razing hills at Narayanhat area of Fatikchhari upazila.

The fine was imposed after a hearing held at DoE office at Khulshi area of port city.

Mohammad Moazzom Hossain, director of DoE Chattogram region, told The Daily Star that the tea estate flattened a part of a hill at Narayanhat where a dispute between the estate and forest department was prevailing.

"We inspected the spot and came up with proof of illegal hill cutting [by the estate]," he said.

Additionally, another nine businesses, including brick kilns, were fined a total of Tk 13 lakh after separate hearings.