Staff Reporter: Unauthorized stone breaking (stone crusher) in four upazilas of Sunamganj to stop the use of Deputy Commissioner. Jahangir Hossain, Superintendent of Police. Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) has issued legal notices to 21 government officials, including Mizanur Rahman. Bella’s lawyer S Hasanul Banna sent the notice on Wednesday.
Bela Sylhet Divisional Coordinator Shah Shaheda Akhter confirmed the notice. The notice requested these persons to take necessary steps to stop the use of these unauthorized crusher machines which are harmful to the environment and public health and at the same time inform them of the steps taken within seven days of receiving the notice. Otherwise, legal action will be taken against them, the notice said.
Others on notice are the Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Land, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Employment, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Commerce, Director General of Environment, Chairman of National River Protection Commission, Director General of Health, Department of Roads and Highways. Chief Engineer, Director, Department of Environment, Sylhet, Executive Officer (UNO) of Sadar, Chhatak, Tahirpur, and Jamalganj Upazilas of Sunamganj, and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of these four police stations.
According to the notice, stone-breaking machines are operating in four upazilas of Sunamganj without approval. These machines have been set up in Sadar, Chhatak, Tahirpur, and Jamalganj upazilas of the district on the banks of Surma river, Chalati river, Jadukata river, Rakti river, Boulai river, Laudergarh and Anwarpur areas of Tahirpur. As well as causing serious noise pollution, the damage to nature, the environment, and public health are due to the placement of these everywhere. Due to this, there is a negative impact on education activities, socioeconomic, and agriculture. Although there is a policy to set up stone-breaking machines, these are not being followed in Sunamganj. Approval or license of the appropriate authority for setting up these machines, environmental clearance was supposed to be taken, but these were not taken.
In this context, Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner. Jahangir Hossain said that steps have been taken to bring them under one discipline. These machines are being listed at the upazila level. People’s livelihood is involved with this. However, in order not to harm the environment and people, everyone must be aware. The matter will be taken seriously.
