Agricultural land is being cut and ponds are being dug over farmlands in Santhia upazila by land sellers illegally. And that soil is going to different brick kilns. Regional roads and highways are becoming impassable due to soil removal by trucks. On the other hand, the soil of the truck falls on the road and the respiratory disease is increasing due to dust.
It is known that Santhia of Pabna district is an upazila focusing agricultural development. All the municipalities and 10 unions produced good crops. Recently, it is seen that many people are cutting the cropland and making ponds. Pond soil is being sold to brick kilns at high prices.
At the MSB brick kiln located in Khetupara union of Santhia upazila, 40/50 truckloads of soil are being sold month after month from Thakur Bill adjacent to the train road of Hasanpur village of Santhia upazila. Nazrul Islam, son of Chand Ali of Hasanpur village, Fazlul Mohri, son of Abu Bakkar, Manu, son of Jaher Khan and Rashedul Islam, son of Awal of Khalivra village, are selling this land in the name of pond renovation. They sell that soil to brick kilns at a high price. Rural roads and highways are under threat as soil is delivered by trucks and motorized vehicles month after month. A pile of soil fell on the road and created dust. When this soil rains, the road becomes slippery, so the drivers of passengers and heavy vehicles are in danger of major accidents.
Going to Hasanpur village, it can be seen that there is a pile of soil on the paved road of Hasanpur-Khalivra village. The paved road has become impassable for vehicles and people as the soil has turned into mud due to rain water. At various places on the road, the carpeting was broken and lowered by the wheels of the truck.
Momin of Hasanpur village said that paddy harvesting has started. We are not able to transport paddy home due to the bad condition of the road. If you walk barefoot on the road, you will fall. We seek the intervention of the administration to stop the sale of soil. Also Sujan member of Jashomant Dulai village of Upazila is digging pond and selling soil with the help of Moti.
School, college students and local residents are getting sick due to the dust from the mud trucks running on the roads every day. Regarding the dust on the road, college students Sumi, Khorshed, pedestrian Nazmul and many others said that it is difficult to walk in the dust on the road. Nose, mouth is closed. Also due to many problems in the lungs there is always coughing and sneezing.
Rashedul Islam, son of Awal of Khalivra village, said that we are selling soil with the permission of the administration. Halim, the owner of MSB brick kiln, said that the soil coming to his kiln for cutting bricks is pond soil. Local brokers sell land to me. Eight and a half taka feet of soil was purchased from them. We buy 40 to 50 trucks of soil every day. Kamal Hossain of Sirajul, Bahalbaria, Khalivra village of Kshetupara Union, a soil trader, said that we get money during times of crisis by selling pond soil. It is not possible to sell this amount of soil anywhere else if the soil is not given in the brick kiln.
Santhia upazila executive officer Masud Hossain said, we are taking measures in this regard.