Open sand and soil laden trucks ply every day on roads and highways of Ishwardi in Pabna. Although there is a rule to cover the sand and soil laden trucks with cloth, anyone hardly follows the rule. As a result, the sand of the trucks causes serious air pollution there.
Motorcyclists, rickshaw and auto-rickshaw drivers, and common people face harmful problems due to that.
It was known that sand is transported by hundreds of long trucks, general trucks and other vehicles every day from Saraghat of Padma River of the Upazila, Padma River Ghat of Pakshi and its adjacent Ghat in lalpur Upazila. The sand is transported openly although there is a rule to cover the trucks or vehicles with cloth while transporting. As a result, the sand units winnow in the air and cause problem to the motorcyclists, rickshaw and auto-rickshaw drivers and common pedestrians. Besides, the sand gets mixed in the air and causes air pollution.
Witnesses said sand and soil are carried by many drum trucks, trucks and other vehicles in several areas of the Upazila. The sand and soil are used in many types of work. The drivers do not pay any heed to the rule of covering the sand and soil while these are transported by truck and other vehicles. So, the sand and soil crushing units fly to the faces and eyes of the pedestrians, motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles. It causes health risk to the people of the areas.
A motorcyclist and also businessman, Abdur Rashid, said sometimes the crushing units of sand of the open trucks fly to my eyes during riding the motorcycle on the roads. It creates problem to ride motorcycle.
A rickshaw puller, Mahir Uddin, said sand is carried in large trucks without covering with cloth.
An auto-rickshaw driver, Mokbul Hossain, said sand is harmful for eyes. It may cause severe problem. So, sand should be covered while it is being transported.
Ishwardi Pourashabha Nirbahi Officer (PNO) Johurul Islam said sand transportation by open trucks is harmful for the environment and health of the people. There is a rule to not to carry sand by open trucks in the municipality area. The matter will be monitored considering the interest of the people.
Ishwardi Traffic Police Inspector Abdullah Al Mamun said there is a rule to cover the sand laden trucks. If anyone does not follow the rule for sand transportation, legal procedure will be taken against him.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Subir Kumar Das said carrying sand in open trucks is harmful for the people and environment. Sand business and transportation related people will be asked to follow the rule.
