Lifting of sand from Teesta river at Mahipur area under Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district is going on unabated, posing serious threat to the second Teesta bridge over the river in the area and also causing risk of massive erosion.
Locals alleged that a section of dishonest people have continued this indiscriminate sand lifting from near the pillar of the second Teesta bridge over the river which is awaiting opening soon. As a result the bridge is facing serious risk. The sand lifters have been extracting sand by sinking pipes into the bed of the river with dredgers from the area for the last few days, but the authority concerned seems to be oblivious to the matter.
Local people claimed that they lodged complaint several times with the local administration but no step has been taken so far in this regard. They further said that law enforcing agencies seem to be reluctant to take any action against the sand lifters who are involved in continuous sand lifting.
Hundreds of acres of cultivable land near the river bank are also threatened by erosion locals said. They said the concerned authorities should take immediate measures to stop this illegal act.
Mona Mia, a local farmer said that he lost his 25 decimals of croplands due to erosion last year caused by unabated sand lifting from the river Teesta. This year he is apprehending same situation if lifting of sand continues for long. They informed the local administration of the matter but the authority did not take any step in this regard, he added.
In this situation local people urged the authority concerned to take necessary measures against the culprits soon and stop sand lifting from the river in order to save the second Teesta bridge and a vast tract of cultivable lands from erosion.
