Excavation of soil from croplands in Charafara village of Pangsha upazila in Rajbari is giving way to possibilities of landslides.
The Gautampur bridge in the area is at risk due to the excavations. The locals are also suffering due to the movement of trucks on the road.
It has recently been found that soil was being removed from the crop land about 200 yards away from the 120 meters long bridge with an excavator. Large holes have been created as a result. And erosion in the surrounding lands has taken place for that.
According to sources, the excavated soil is being taken to different brickfields in the area using trucks. The movement of the trucks is causing dust pollution and creating ditches in different places of the road.
Asking not to be named, locals said that several people, including one Tamiz Uddin, were involved in selling land. They are all “locally influential people, which is why no one dares to protest”, according to them.
Tamiz Uddin, a resident of the village, admitting to the excavation, said that sand has accumulated on the lands due to flood waters. As a result, crops do not grow on those lands. That is why, those who have lands there, are selling the soil to the brick kilns.
However, the land becomes like before during monsoon as alluvial soil fills up there, he said adding that until then, they utilize the holes through fish breeding.
The Gautampur bridge, which is at risk due to soil erosion, is very important for the people of the area to travel. The locals fear that the removal of soil from the bridge could endanger the bridge.
According to them, many lands in the vicinity are under threat. Soil is being excavated every day. Even traveling by the road causes suffering.
Pangsha Upazila Engineer Zakir Hasan of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) said there was a risk of damage to the bridge if the excavation continued.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Ali said sand or soil was being extracted illegally from different areas of the Habaspur union.
He said this issue has been discussed several times in the Upazila Law and Order Committee. Excavation of soil from agricultural land is strictly prohibited. Campaigns are often conducted to stop it. Measures will be taken regarding the matter.