Digging their own graves
Hillocks created for shelter of coastal people during high tide and cyclone are getting flattened because of theft of earth
This artificially made hillock at Nalkhola village in Dashmina upazila under Patuakhali district, meant for sheltering locals during tidal surges, is facing extinction as a section of unscrupulous people are cutting away earth from it and erecting makeshift structures. Photo: STAR
Artificially created hillocks, meant for use as shelter by coastal people and their livestock during natural disasters, are getting flattened as unscrupulous people often take earth from there for personal use in Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali district. After the devastating cyclone and tidal surges of November 12 in 1971, authorities made around 100 hillocks in seven upazilas of Patuakhali district to save people and their livestock during such disasters, said sources of District Relief and Rehabilitation Office (DRRO). Seven of the hillocks, locally called tillas, were created at different places in Dashmina upazila but they have either disappeared or got smaller as there is no supervising authority to maintain those, said sources of Dashmina upazila administration. The hillock at Char Borhan under Rongopaldi union in Dasmina upazila has been totally destroyed due to mindless earth taking by the locals. The hillock at Chandpur village has become very small as locals removed its soil for their personal work. The hillock at Patar Char in the upazila has been washed away due to erosion by the Dashmina River and another hillock at Char Hadi is under the same threat. A resident of Nolkhola village of the upazila, also a supporter of ruling Awami League, has already cut earth of over 20 feet in the south sides of a hillock and set up a personal toilet by making it plain land, said witnesses. Nizam Jomaddar, son of former UP chairman Sekander Ali Jomaddar, often cuts earth from the hillock for personal use, locals said. Besides, local workers use its earth to repair a nearby earthen road under the maintenance project of LGED (local Government Engineering Department), they added. When contacted, Nizam Jomaddar, a resident of Nalkhola village, said, "I did not cut earth from the hillock. Former UP member Mojibur Rahman cut earth to build a nearby earthen road in front of a local temple two or three years ago." Mojibar Rahman's version could not be obtained. When contacted, immediate past UP chairman Sekander Ali Jomaddar said, "No authority gave any instruction to take care of these hillocks created on people's lands. Local people often cut the hillocks and in most cases it is done by the land owners. Labours employed for earthen road construction also cut it." "I and all my neighbours saved life by taking shelter on the hillock during super cyclone Sidr on November 15 in 2007. But some people are cutting earth from there, causing harm to our shelter during disasters," said Safura Begum, 70, of Nalkhola village. The government should acquire lands of these hillocks and take step to maintain it properly as it is safer place to local people to save themselves during disasters including cyclone, flood, said Abdul Hai, team leader of Disaster Preparedness Programme for Dashmina upazila. Mahtabul Bari, assistant director for the programme, said he informed the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Dasmina of the matter and the latter gave assurance of taking necessary steps. When contacted, Dashmina UNO Ajmol Hossain said, "I will take lawful step against those who will be found guilty for hillock cutting. But nobody has submitted any complaint to me in this regard. Local people should protect the hillocks in their own interest."
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