Sylhet tea garden owner fined for hill cutting

Herbs being spread over a levelled hilltop to evade the eyes of law enforcers in Khadimpara in Sylhet sadar upazila. Planting of a few stray banana saplings is only an attempt to make-believe that the hill, Chhankhola, was protected from landslide. Earth being removed from the hilltop in bags so people cannot notice the stealing. The photos were taken recently. Photo: Anis Mahmud

The Department of Environment (DoE) has realised a fine of Tk 17.5 lakh from an owner of a tea garden as a compensation for cutting a hill in Sylhet district.
The owner of Taj Tea Garden Md Rukon Uddin Khan at least levelled top 20 feet of the 200 feet high Chhankhola hill.
The local land administration and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) investigated the matter, and found that the hill cutting is causing landslide in the area which has already filled up a local stream.
DoE, Dhaka summoned Rukon Uddin on Monday to appear before court within 24 hours.
After appearing in the court yesterday, Rukon Uddin Khan apologised for his act, and committed not to cut hills again. He also paid the fine.
Director of Enforcement and Monitoring Unit of DoE Mohammed Munir Chowdhury said “I directed him to make grass carpeting and tree plantation on the levelled portion of the hill”.
The owner of the tea garden will plant saplings of fruit, wood and medicinal trees on the hill to stop landslides, while the local administration will monitor the implementation.
The DoE has taken the step within 24 hours of publishing news on this hill-cutting.
The Environment Preservation Act (amendment 2010) prohibits cutting of any hill even if it is privately owned.