Sylhet – An influential syndicate continues to extract stone from some 14 acres of privately owned land at Kandubasti in Chailakhal, adjacent to the Piain River in Sylhet’s Gowainghat, in violation of court orders. UNB news agency reported
What makes it worse is that the extraction is taking place using illegal mechanised stone extracting machines that have come to be known as ‘bombing machines’ for their dangerous effects on the environment as well as human beings. A 2010 High Court order bans the use of such machines.
On May 17, Judge of Additional District Court Abu Safayet M Shahedul Islam passed an order asking the officer-in-charge of Gowainghat Police Station through the superintendent of police of Sylhet to take legal steps against the illegal stone quarrying, harming the environment and ecological balance of the area.
Earlier, the same court ordered the Gowainghat OC to take the same action, but met with no response, prompting it to pass the order through the Sylhet police super.
M Tarikullah, manager of Piain Store Crushers, filed the case on behalf of his company (owned by Delwar Hossain) with the Additional District Court against some 12 people on charges of illegally quarrying stone in Kandubasti.
Talking to UNB’s Sylhet correspondent, Tarikullah said despite a number of court orders for law enforcers to take action against them, the accused have been carrying on their illegal lifting of stone from the area using the so-called ‘bombing machines’, with help from the local administration. Over the last weekend, a ‘festival of illegal stone quarrying’ commenced, according to Tarikullah.
Contacted, Gowainghat OC Delwar Hossain said the law enforcers alongside the upazila administration have been conducting drives to stop illegal stone excavation with bombing machines.
However, the OC did admit that ‘some stone-grabbers’ continue lifting stone illegally, before adding, “We will take stronger action against them.”
Gowainghat UNO M Salah Uddin said they are conducting daily drives in keeping with the court directive, during which they destroy bombing machines. Such drives will continue, he added.
