Bapa urges govt
Staff Correspondent
Green environment leaders at a human chain yesterday demanded steps to implement the decisions by the depatrtment of enviroment immediately to protect environment of Jaflong and Companyganj from unscrupulous stone extractors.
They alleged that stone traders are using hundreds of excavators in the areas to collect stones swiftly from the river beds, while the local administration remains indifferent even knowing the traders are violating the existing laws.
The leaders placed the demand at a rally organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) in collaboration with Adhivasi Paribesh Rokkha Andolon at Shabagh intersection in the city.
The DoE at a meeting on February 1 took five decisions on preserving the two important spots, but no sign of implementation of the decisions is in sight yet, they said.
Presiding over the rally, Bapa President Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said rapid stone extraction by detonating machines and excavators is hampering natural beauty and ecological balance and destroying the threatened habitats of indigenous communities and their traditional occupation, hills, forests and overall activities.
Bapa vice presidents ASM Shahjahan and Sayed ANM Wahed, General Secretary Abdul Matin and Member Secretary of Shushashoner Janney Nagorik Dr Badiul Alam Majumder also spoke.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
