Indiscriminate sand lifting threatens Kuakata dyke
A local influential group has continued illegal sand lifting from near Kuakata flood control embankment, threatening the protection dyke as well as the scenic tourist spot. The photo was taken a few days ago.Photo: STAR
Kuakata flood control embankment and adjoining sea beach area are under threat as a local influential group has continued illegal sand extraction from a ditch outside the embankment for the last six months. As the ditch is becoming deeper due to continued sand lifting, its bank may collapse any time and the threat will be more serious during the rainy season, said several locals. The influential group, involved in selling the sand through pipes from a ditch about 70 to 80 metres to the north of the central points of the beach and adjacent of the embankment, has already sold sand worth over Tk 10 lakh from the ditch, locals said. During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent saw that the group is lifting up sand from the ditch of the flood control embankment with the help of a locally made dredger and they are filling up a piece of land with the sand about 300 metres away, inside the embankment. A signboard hanging with the wall of the land said its owner is some Khadija Rahman of Kalikapur in Patuakhali town. The 'landowner' or any of her representatives was not found there when this correspondent tried to get their comments. Talking to this correspondent, Nasir uddin, leader of the group and owner the dredger, introduced himself as former president of Motor Sramik League of Latachaplee union unit. Tofazzel Hossain Tofael, secretary of Patuakhali district unit of Sramik League, said, “We do not have any unit in such name. Some local men may falsely introduce themselves as men belonging to the ruling party or its wing to do illegal business. Local administration should take step against those who are involved in such work and earn money in illegal ways.” Asked whether there is any central committee of their unit, Nasir Uddin evaded the question, saying, “Now I am not active in politics.” “The local administration should take immediate step to stop sand lifting to prevent collapse of the flood control embankment and serious damage to Kuakata sea beach, a famous tourist spot,” said Prof AKM Mostafa Zaman, chairman of Environment and Disaster Management Department of Patuakhali Science and Technology University. Asked about the illegal sand lifting, local UP Chairman Abdul Bareq Molla said, “Nobody submitted any complaint to me in this regard.” Nasir Uddin claimed that they are lifting up sand from the ditch following oral permission from Kalapara upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) to dig a pond there. “We are giving Tk 2,000 for per 1,000 square feet of sand to the UNO office. We have planned to dig a pond here to meet water crisis of tourists,” he added. Kalapara UNO Md Liakot Ali, also the chairman of Kuakata beach management committee, on the other hand, said, “Some local people started digging a pond about six months ago. Later we stopped the work. I do not know whether the sand lifting is running now. If it runs, I will take step to stop the work.” The UNO, however, declined to make any comment about Nasir Uddin's claim of giving money to the UNO office for selling sand.
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