top soil extraction

Feni land under threat

Dishonest traders extract soil at night flouting a ban

Unplanned top soil-cutting and sand-lifting from agricultural fields in six upazilas continue unabated right before the nose of the authorities. Experts say the removal of top soil is going to reduce the fertility of paddy fields. The local administration claims that dishonest traders extract soilat night flouting a ban.  

Sources say Pachgachia, Sorshidi, Lumua, Farhadnagor unions in Sadar upazila, Char Chindina in Songazi upazila, Rajapur in Dhagonbhyan, and Monshir and New Munshirhat in Fulgazi upazila are places where top soil removal is rampant.  In Chhagalnaiya and Parshuram border areas, unplanned sand mining by some influential people is said to be going on unabated due to their links with political leaders. The local administration is not taking any action against the offenders.

 During a visit to these places, this correspondent saw powerful dredgers engaged in soil-lifting from paddy fields. The clay was being loaded onto trucks and then supplied to other places. Farhadnagor railway areas and Lumua railway tracks have become vulnerable as a result of soil removal.

 Feni deputy commissioner Md Wahiduzzman told The Independent that nearly 20 mobile courts were active against those cutting top soil and lifting sand. “Several awareness meetings have been held with brickfield owners. Red alert has been issued by the union parishad chairman. We have seized some machines from the spot and find the offenders nearly Tk. 10 lakh," he said.

 He also said the soil traders promised not to cut agricultural fields. Brickfield owners have been told not to take soil from paddy fields. “We have zero tolerance for those who cut paddy field soil,” he added.

“We are aware that a syndicate has been active for long in Feni district. All the UNOs have been asked to take action against those violating the instructions,” the DC told  The Independent.

 When contacted, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Exertion (Feni), Md Mosharaf Hossain, told The Independent that top soil was vital for paddy fields. It is rich in nutrients up to six to seven inches. "The removal of this layer robs the soil of its fertility and renders it unfit for cultivation," he added.

 An agricultural engineer, Md Amzad Hossain, expressed similar views. He said the loss of top soil could reduce agricultural production by 60 to 70 per cent.

 

top soil extraction

Feni land under threat

Dishonest traders extract soil at night flouting a ban

Unplanned top soil-cutting and sand-lifting from agricultural fields in six upazilas continue unabated right before the nose of the authorities. Experts say the removal of top soil is going to reduce the fertility of paddy fields. The local administration claims that dishonest traders extract soilat night flouting a ban. Sources say Pachgachia, Sorshidi, Lumua, Farhadnagor unions in Sadar upazila, Char Chindina in Songazi upazila, Rajapur in Dhagonbhyan, and Monshir and New Munshirhat in Fulgazi upazila are places where top soil removal is rampant. In Chhagalnaiya and Parshuram border areas, unplanned sand mining by some influential people is said to be going on unabated due to their links with political leaders. The local administration is not taking any action against the offenders. During a visit to these places, this correspondent saw powerful dredgers engaged in soil-lifting from paddy fields. The clay was being loaded onto trucks and then supplied to other places. Farhadnagor railway areas and Lumua railway tracks have become vulnerable as a result of soil removal. Feni deputy commissioner Md Wahiduzzman told The Independent that nearly 20 mobile courts were active against those cutting top soil and lifting sand. Several awareness meetings have been held with brickfield owners. Red alert has been issued by the union parishad chairman. We have seized some machines from the spot and find the offenders nearly Tk. 10 lakh, he said. He also said the soil traders promised not to cut agricultural fields. Brickfield owners have been told not to take soil from paddy fields. We have zero tolerance for those who cut paddy field soil, he added. We are aware that a syndicate has been active for long in Feni district. All the UNOs have been asked to take action against those violating the instructions, the DC told The Independent. When contacted, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Exertion (Feni), Md Mosharaf Hossain, told The Independent that top soil was vital for paddy fields. It is rich in nutrients up to six to seven inches. The removal of this layer robs the soil of its fertility and renders it unfit for cultivation, he added. An agricultural engineer, Md Amzad Hossain, expressed similar views. He said the loss of top soil could reduce agricultural production by 60 to 70 per cent.