Stop illegal extraction of white clay HC asks govt

The High Court yesterday declared illegal extraction of white clay from three mouzas in Netrokona.

The area is plagued by indiscriminate destruction and unplanned cutting of hills and hillocks.

The court also upheld its previous order that had asked the authorities concerned of the government to stop unauthorised extraction of white clay from Arapara, Panchkahaniya and Maizpur mouzas in Durgapur upazila.

The bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Ataur Rahman Khan came up with the verdict following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) challenging the legality of such activities there.

Bela chief Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan told The Daily Star that 10 companies had been extracting white clay from the mouzas cutting hills. The companies do not have any lease of the area or environmental clearance certificates.  

Environment and biodiversity of the areas were damaged. People of indigenous communities, including those of Hajong and Garo, have been the victims as their livelihood depends on the hills and forests, she added.

Bela submitted the writ petition to the HC in November 2015 seeking necessary orders to protect the environment.

Following the petition, the HC on March 14, 2016 ordered the government to stop unauthorised extraction of white clay from three mouzas immediately.