Hills being razed endangering ecology, biodiversity in Sylhet

Illegal hill cutting is going on unabated in various places of Sylhet district as the authorities appear to be indifferent to the offence being perpetrated endangering both ecology and biodiversity here.

There is literally none to dissuade the elements, who are said to be influential quarters, from continuing the unauthorised hill cutting activities.

Even excavators are being used at places to raze hills while manual cutting is going on elsewhere.

Normally, after cutting land on foothills, land sliding takes place easily on slopes during monsoon. The hill cutters then sell the soil while they get the land levelled.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found some impoverished people living at the hill slopes almost everywhere amid risks.

Indiscriminate hill cutting was going on in the places like Majortila, Tilagaon, Baluchar, Brahmanshashon, Hawladerpara, Mazumderpara, Akhalia, Dolia and Shahebbazar.

The same way hill cutting was continuing at Khadim tea garden, Burjan tea garden, Malnichhera tea garden, Luckatoora tea garden, Alibahar tea garden etc.

Tea gardens are owned by the government and leased to tea planters on long terms.

However, environment officials in a drive recently issued show cause notice on five individuals for hill cutting in Tilagaon area, near the Shahjalal University campus.

Some locals like Ataur Rahman said many people bought land at hill slopes and built houses there spending less money for living.

"Although it's risky, we have no other alternative," Ataur said, adding "We know hillocks and adjacent places are risky.

A good many dwelling houses were seen being built at Jahangirnagar in Tukerbazar as well as at Majortila.

The 15 acre hillock has already tin-shed structures for living just for lesser prices in risky ventures at Jahangirnagar. And same is the situation at Majortila.

Some people, however, made concrete structures for living. Over a hundred families raised houses around while the authorities have no monitoring or supervision on such habitation in the city areas.

Although there is no accurate figure is available, environment officials believe there are 1,875 hillocks on 4811 acres of land in Sylhet division. Besides, about 20 to 30 per cent of the hillocks have already been razed in the recent years.

Regional coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA) Shah Shaheda said illegal hill cutting is being continued in an uncontrolled way in different upazilas including Sylhet Sadar, Golapganj, Beanibazar and Fenchuganj.

But there is none to see things, she said, adding every year many people die of landslide due hill cutting.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Sylhet general secretary Kashmir Reza also expressed grave concern over the nonstop trend of hill cutting in Sylhet region. He called for immediate stoppage of such activities. Environment director, Sylhet divisional office Ferdous Anwar said, "We are trying our best to stop such illegal activities. Our officials move to places, on information of hill cutting any time and take actions. Even they move at night. Still it's hard to stop the offence fully."

He added mass awareness is very much needed to stop hill cutting. Many people raised habitats on slopes of hills with life risks.

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