Defying a High court directive, some real estate companies in collaboration with a section of local influential people have been constructing buildings near Cox’s Bazar sea beach, making a threat to the environment and ecology in the area.
Besides, the illegal establishments have been causing harm to the scenic beauty of the world’s largest sea beach.
In 2012, the High Court gave a directive asking authorities concerned not to allow construction of buildings within 500 metre distance from the water level of the sea.
The court also directed the authorities concerned to evict existing buildings and under-construction buildings in the area.
Following the directive, the local administration had demarcated the border area of the 120 kilometer long beach and begun eviction drive. But they had not continued the drive for some unknown reasons.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune many environmental activists demanded that the authorities concerned begin the drives to evict all illegally constructed buildings near the scenic sea beach.
The government should necessary steps immediately to stop the ongoing constructions and evict the existing building constructed by violating rules, said Fajlul Quader Chowdhury, president of Cox’s Bazar district unit of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan.
The ecology and environment of the beach may badly be affected by the unplanned urbanization in the area, he said.
The human habitat could be destroyed by any sudden natural calamity including, tsunami or earthquake due to the process, he added.
During recent visits, this correspondent found that many building were being constructed at potential tourist spots at different places from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, many people involved in the constructions process said some local influential people joined their hands with real estate companies in land purchase process. Sometimes the people force the land owners to sell their lands to the companies, depriving them real market prices of their properties, they said.
Sardar Sariful Islam, assistant director at the department of environmental in Cox’s Bazar, said as per existing rules no one can construct building of more than 10 stories in the sea beach area.
Md Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar said they will not allow anyone to construct building near the sea beach.