Department of Environment yesterday slapped a fine of Tk 7 lakh on RF Properties Ltd, a real estate firm, for destroying the natural balance of Prabartak Sangha hill.
A team of DoE led by its Director (enforcement) Munir Chowdhury conducted the drive around 10:30am, in association with Chittagong Metropolitan Police.
The team penalised the realtor on charges of topping soil, destroying binding capacity of soil and biodiversity and changing the shape of the hill.
During the one-hour long drive it also seized 10 metric tonnes of construction materials and dismantled the illegal boundary fence around the hill.
The realtor did not take No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the DoE for setting up structure on the hill, claimed Munir Chowdhury. “If they had permission from the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), it was not a right decision,” he noted.
The DoE official said the firm defied several DoE notices for dismantling the boundary fence.
Businesses concerned will be penalised if found guilty of destroying environment, he mentioned adding, “We will measure the offence first and then determine the penalty amount.”
“We will recommend Chittagong City Corporation as well as CDA to declare the Prabartak Sangha hill as a green zone.”
The Daily Star could not know the reactions of CDA chairman and officials of R F Properties as they were not available over the phone.
