Illegal stone extraction must stop
A picture published in this daily yesterday depicts how a vast area of land in the Bichhanakandi village of Sylhet's Gowainghat upazila has been destroyed because of indiscriminate stone extraction. The village and its surrounding areas are now under threat of land subsidence.
According to reports by The Daily Star, stone extraction in the area has been going on for long. A previous report revealed that as many as five villages in the same upazila were affected by stone extraction. This daily ran a report in 2017 on illegal extraction in the same village where this picture has been taken. One and a half years later, the situation has become even worse as no substantive steps have been taken to stop this. Clearly, politically powerful people are behind this and in many cases, local government officials are their abettors. This corrupt nexus between the politically powerful and the local administration must stop.
It is most unfortunate that destruction of the environment happens in our country in all possible forms. Our hills are being razed; fertile topsoil of agricultural land is being cut off to be used in brick kilns; trees are being felled indiscriminately; rivers and water bodies are being grabbed and polluted—all without any reaction from the authorities concerned.
Illegal stone extraction is not only having a harmful impact on the area's environment as the topography of the area is fast changing, but workers engaged in stone extraction also face grave dangers from landslides and other accidents. The authorities entrusted with the responsibility to stop such illegal practices must play their role without any fear or favour.
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