The century-old Henza Pukur (pond) of Dhopa Para at Halishahar in the port city. Photo: ANURUP KANTI DAS

The land grabbers are occupying the century-old Henza Pukur (pond) of Dhopa Para at Halishahar in the port city by earth filling while the authorities concerned end their duty only issuing notices to the encroachers when the locals inform the matter to them.
The locals alleged that three influential people -- Jebal Hossain Royel, Mohammad Safi and Mohammad Ishaque -- are filling up the century-old pond, constructing structures and renting those.
They said the grabbers are daring to continue such kind of activities due to inaction by the authorities concerned.
The water body is being filled up causing immense sufferings to the locals as it is their only source of water for daily uses.
Semi-pucca houses have been built and rented, a two-storey building is also being built on another side of the pond.
Besides, many illegal tin-shed houses have been built on the other sides to occupy the water body area.
The locals said they have submitted memorandums to Department of Environment (DoE), Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) and Fire Service and Civil Defence to save the water body, but no action has yet been taken against the grabbers.
They said water supply from the Wasa is not available so water crisis makes the locals suffer seriously during the dry season as they have no alternative to the pond to collect water. Around 100 families of the area use water of the pond for bathing and the daily household activities.
There are 10 small ponds in the area on which the common people depend for their daily water related activities so water crisis will hit the local residents if the water body is filled, said the locals.
At least 20 people are the owners of the Henza Pukur, said M.I Faruqui, a resident of the area, adding that local people submitted petitions to the authorities concerned to save the water body from illegal grabbing.
He said a case was pending with the court in this connection. He said the grabbers continue their activities defying the court order that directed not to fill or change the shape of the water body.
Locals said CDA served notices to Royel, Safi and Ishaque for violating the court order and constructing structures, filling ponds and renting those in the area.
CDA Chief Engineer AGM Selim said they will ask the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Halishahar Police Station to remove the illegal structures on the pond and to take action against the sections who are constructing structures.
Selim said coordination is needed among DoE, police department and CDA to implement laws against the grabbers.
DoE Director Jafar Alam said the department will take steps against the grabbers if the matter comes to their notice.
Md Ruhul Amin, deputy director of Fire Brigade and Civil Defence, said their officials visited the spot and prepared a report to stop filling up the water body.
When asked Assistant Commissioner (AC) Tanbhir Arafat of Double Mooring Zone said, they had got a notice from CDA in this regard. If DoE magistrate takes action against the grabbers they would help, Tanbhir added.