The Department of Environment (DoE) fined seven individuals of Pukua upazila in Cox’s Bazar Tk 10 lakh in total for razing hills.
DoE’s Chittagong Region Director Moazzam Hossain slapped the fine on the errant individuals following hearings at his office on Monday.
During the hearings, the errant individuals confessed to their offences and committed not to repeat the offences.
Of them, Md Sohel, Abu Tayyab, Md Rashed and Dalilur Rahman were fined with Tk 7 lakh while Zakaria, Md Sarwar and Mostaque were fined with Tk 3 lakh.
As per the Environment Conservation (Amendment) Act 2010, hill cutting is a cognizable offence and no government, semi-government, or autonomous organization is allowed to cut or raze hills without prior permission from the authorities concerned.
Under the terms of Building Construction Rules 1996, clearance certificates must be obtained from the Department of Environment for razing or cutting any hill.
