DoE fines Toma Group Tk 50cr for cutting 22m cubic feet of hill in Ctg

Department of Environment (DoE), Chattogram region, has fined Toma Construction and Company Limited for razing almost 22 million cubic feet of hills from reserve forest area at Lohagara upazila of Chattogram.

The company in October completely flattened a large area of Rangapahar, which is a part of Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, for the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail project.  The Daily Star ran a report on the massive hill razing on October 23 this year.

Mohammad Moazzom Hossain, director of DoE Chattogram region said that Toma Construction and Company Limited delayed the hearing date by seeking time repeatedly.

"Today they appeared to the hearing where we analysed our inspection report which found that they cut a total of 22 million cubic feet of hill at Rangapahar area devastating the whole ecosystem of the place. Taking it into consideration, we fined them Tk 50 crore today," he said.

Apart from this, a case will be filed against them for damaging the environment, he added.