HC orders stop to sand mining from Surma

The High Court today ordered the authorities concerned to immediately take steps to stop extraction of sand from Surma River in Sylhet.

The court asked the deputy commissioner of Sylhet to submit a report assessing the damage of the river due to sand extraction before the court, Assistant Attorney General Arobinda Kumar Roy told The Daily Star.

The court also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain as to why they should not be directed to eliminate Peshnewaj sand extraction zone (Balu Mahal) from the list of sand extraction zones of Surma River.

The bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association.

The petitioner said in the petition that south Surma River is being damaged due to sand extraction from it by Mahmud Tejaroti Agency, a business organization, in an uncontrolled manner and therefore, an adverse impact has been made on the environment. 

Advocate Minhazul Haque Chowdhury appeared for the petitioner.