Lalmai and Mainamati hills enriched with a cluster of archaeological sites are an integral part of Cumilla’s heritage. However, despite a government ban on cutting hills, indiscriminate hill cutting is going on in Cumilla.
This relentless earth cutting in Cumilla’s Lalmai and Mainamati hills has been going on for decades, destroying the natural beauty of this scenic area with devastating consequences. Apart from the loss of greenery and the habitat of hundreds of birds and plant species, when hills are cut the risk of landslides is increased, often leading to human deaths.
The Lalmai and Mainamati hills of Cumilla have been presenting a thousand years of history since long. Cumilla University, Science and Technology University, Cumilla Cadet College, Chittagong Divisional Scout Trading Centre are located there. Bangladesh Rural Development Academy (BARD) is also located in Cumilla.
Lalmai and Mainamati hills of Cumilla have
been presenting a
thousand years of
history
since long
Many areas of Cumilla district may face serious disaster as an unscrupulous influential quarter continues cutting the Lalmai and Mainamati hills, in gross breach of environmental laws. The authorities concerned sometimes conduct raids to stop hill cutting and fine the influential people, who are involved in cutting the hills.
Cases are filed against the labourers but the main culprits always remain untouched as they have an unholy nexus with the local administration, it is alleged. Ignoring the authorities concerned they are still cutting hills and selling soil for construction work, according to stories run by different national dailies.
Several areas of Lalmai and Mainamati hills are being levelled by the organised influential quarter under the very nose of the local administration. These influential people and musclemen in association with local armed middlemen also issue threat to the people who protest the hill cutting. Landslide caused by heavy rain are common during the monsoon between June and September in our country.