Unabated sand lifting from Nagor River in Bogra threatens houses, cropland

BOGRA, Jan 10: A good number of houses as well as cropland are seriously threatened due to frequent unabated sand lifting from Nagor River under Bogra district.

Sources said, people of Balodmara, Laluka, Sabla, Nawdapara, Velurchalk, Palipara area under Dupchanchi upazila and Jangalpara, Nimaikola and Gondishar of Kahaloo upazilas are the worst sufferers as a large area of cropland is being eroded every year, said local conscious people.

A group of local influential people are reportedly lifting sand round the clock with shallow machines defying the order of the administration, said college teacher Abul Kalam Azad. If the authority concerned does not take immediate steps to stop their activities, people of the area will face untold suffering within very short time, sources added.

Affected people informed the FE correspondent that they did not get any response despite bringing the matter before the upazila administration and local union parishad chairman.

One of the victims, Soleman Hossain, 45, of Dupchanchia upazila said, he had two bighas of land nearby Nagor River two years ago but lost half of them due to continued sand lifting, said. He urged the authorities to take the immediate steps to the authority concerned c to control the damage.

"Houses as well as cropland are being seriously threatened due to unabated sand lifting from the river," said mayor of Talora municipality Jalil Hossain. We are trying heart to stop this with frequent monitoring, he added.

Assistant Commissioner (land) Jesmin Prodhan said the authorities had made several drives. We will continue the drives, she added.

When contracted Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahed Parvez said whenever the administration conducts drives these people quickly flee from the spots with their machines.

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