Unscrupulous businessmen are lifting stones in various locations of Bandarban district, defying the law.
According to sources, stones are being lifted in Ali Kadam, Ruma, Lama, Naikhongchhari, Rowangchhari upazilas of the district.
Local influential Helal Soudagar in Tyn Khan area of Ali Kadam upazila, Sramik League leader Jaheed Hossain in Bagher Jiri of Chykhong union, upazila Awami League assistant organising secretary Mejbah Uddin in Boror Ghori and Choto Ghori areas are lifting stones from hills.
Sysha Aung got permission to lift 20,000 square feet of stones from the hills in Bolga, Choto Bykhong and Gerau Pransa under Rowangchhari upazila. However, he is lifitng stones illegally from Kringdaing and some other adjacent hills.
Locals fear hills may collapse in winter due to scarcity of water, which is a consequence of such illegal stone-lifting.
Probin Chandra Tripura, chief of Bagher Jiri Para, said the environment was facing degradation due to the digging of hills and scarcity of water.
Thui Nu Marma of Kringdaing hill area said most of the stones had been lifted already.
"Scarcity of water poses threat to fish," Thui Nu said.
The stones are being lifted from hills using powerful explosives, which is against the law.
According to the Mines and Mineral Act 2012, apart from floating stones in canals, fountains and rivers, stones cannot be lifted by digging soil and cutting hills.
Md Zahed Hossain, who lifts stones from the locality, said stones were being lifted for the construction of government works which was also followed by law.
Ali Kadam UNO Mokakabbir Ahmed said; "Steps will be taken against them who are involved with violating the law."
Locals said if the stone lifting cannot be stopped immediately, environmental disaster would be imminent.
They urged the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) to take necessary steps in this regard.