Hills vanishing in Cox’s Bazar

Earth from hills used to fill up beach side motel plots; govt ban goes ignored
Open spaces in the hotel motel zone of Cox’s Bazar beach are being filled with earth from hills, violating the government’s order.
Sources said workers are carrying earth by digging into hills in broad daylight to fill in the open spaces in absence of an effective monitoring system of the local administration.
Hill cutting, one of the key factors responsible for harming the environment and biodiversity of the hilly areas, is prohibited by law.
Besides, the government in a recent order issued a ban on the transfer, sale and purchase of plots allotted in the Hotel Motel Zone and construction of any structure there
Principal Sharmin Reshmin, chief of Cox’s Bazar Paribesh Bachao Andolon, said hill cutting is going on at different places of Cox’s Bazar town from Saturday morning and earth is being taken to fill up five to six plots in the hotel motel zone. But the administration is not taking any action in this regard, she alleged.
The deputy commissioner (DC) has been informed about the issues of hill cutting and filling of earth in hotel motel zone adjacent to the beach. The DC has assured them of stopping these activities, she said.
A worker preferring anonymity said they are working on a daily wage basis to fill the plots. Earth is being cut from the hills in the west side of the hotel motel zone, Kolatali, Larpara and Pahartali areas. No one obstructs them from bringing earth from the hill.
During a spot visit to the zone Saturday morning, this correspondent saw some young men supervising the earth filling work. Engineer Nasirul Islam of Dhaka based developer Rupayan was supervising the whole work with the youths.
Nasirul said, “Dhaka’s United Company owns the plot. We [Rupayan] have taken the land on lease for constructing a five star hotel. Before constructing the hotel, we are filling earth in the plot. I’m supervising the work as an engineer appointed by Rupayan.”
Asked how they were filling the plot with earth of hill ignoring government ban, Nasirul said, “Chittagong-based contractor Alamgir Hossain is doing the work of earth filling. I don’t know from where earth is being brought.”
About obtaining clearance from the Directorate of Environment (DoE) for constructing the building, Nasirul said, “The company has started work by taking all necessary permission. I’m simply supervising the work.”
When contacted over cell phone, contractor Alamgir Hossain said, “It’s not me. Rupayan is filling earth using local people. I have got the work of constructing the boundary wall of the plot. We have not yet started the work. The boundary will be constructed after filling earth in the plot.”
Cox’s Bazar Zone Inspector of DoE Mizanur Rahman said the hill cutting could not be stopped. In last seven days, owners of 26 hotels were served show cause notices against earth filling and other irregularities. Cases have been filed against two hotels.
He said construction of structures without the clearance of DoE is banned at the ecologically endangered area of the beach. No firm named ‘Rupayan’ has been given clearance to construct building.
Md Saidul Islam, divisional forest officer of Cox’s Bazar (South) Forest Department, said hill cutting could not be stopped despite several raids.
DC Md Gias Uddin Ahmed said, “Earth filling and construction of structures in the hotel motel zone has been stopped for the time being. If anybody fills earth in the plots there, legal action would be taken against them. We are investigating the matter of hill cutting and earth filling.”

Courtesy of The Daily Star