Stop illegal rock lifting from natural water bodies in Bandarban

Hundreds of people of indigenous Mro community living in around 20 villages of Tonkaboti union under Bandarban Sadar upazila formed a human chain in the press club area of the district town yesterday, demanding immediate steps to stop illegal rock extraction from the natural water bodies in the areas.

The villagers are facing serious water crisis as a few unscrupulous people from Chittagong's Lohagara upazila are extracting rock from Rui canal, Tak canal, Taker Panchhari Jiri, Den Jiri, and Tonkaboti canal of the union for around ten years, speakers said at a rally after the human chain there.

They demanded that the government take immediate steps to stop rock extraction from the natural water bodies of hill areas and punish the violators of the environmental laws.

Bung Thui Mro, karbari (local chief) of Kai Tong para, Menrum Mro, karbari of Kanku para, and Yung Chang Mro, spoke at the rally, among others.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to Bir Bahadur U Shwe Sing, state minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry, through the deputy commissioner of Bandarban.