Pirganj (Thakurgaon) Correspondent:
The Tangon River, which flows through Pirganj Upazila of Thakurgaon district, is an important source of livelihood, environment and biodiversity for the local people. But in recent times, illegal sand extraction from the river has put the natural flow of the river, the riverbank land and the surrounding environment at serious risk. The impact of this illegal sand extraction is becoming clear, especially in the Saguni Shalban area of Daulatpur Union, which has created a worrying situation for the local environment and forests.
Local residents complain that sand is being regularly extracted from the river in the dark of night or early morning using trucks and trolleys. This is causing the riverbed to deepen rapidly and the risk of land erosion along the banks is increasing. Environmentalists fear that the Saguni Shalban located near the riverbank may also be at risk due to this situation.
According to experts, uncontrolled extraction of sand from the river destroys the natural balance of the river. If the riverbed becomes excessively deep, the flow pattern of water changes and there is a possibility of land collapse along the banks. As a result, agricultural land, homes and forests around the river are facing damage.
Bangladesh has enacted the Sand Quarry and Soil Management Act, 2010 to extract sand from rivers. According to Section 4 of this act, extracting sand from anywhere except in the designated place and with permission from the government is completely prohibited. According to Section 15 of the same act, if sand is extracted illegally, punitive measures can be taken against the person concerned, which includes fines and imprisonment.
Also, to prevent environmental damage, according to Section 6(a) of the Environment Protection Act, 1995, conducting any activity that causes damage to the environment is a legally punishable offense. If sand is extracted by destroying the natural environment of the river, there is an opportunity to take action under this act.
Experts also said that such activities can have a serious impact on the forest areas along the river, such as the Saguni Salban, in the long term. Because when the riverbank starts to erode, the soil of the forest area weakens and the plants are damaged. This has a negative impact on biodiversity and the local environment.
Some local residents said that the riverbank has become much more vulnerable than before due to sand extraction from the river. They fear that if this illegal sand extraction is not stopped soon, the agricultural land and forest areas along the riverbank may face major damage in the future.
The upazila administration has informed that the issue of illegal sand extraction is being viewed seriously. The administration claims that necessary measures will be taken as per the law and strict action will be taken against anyone who extracts sand illegally.
According to environmentalists, the river is not just a source of water, it is a living ecosystem. Therefore, it is very important to protect the natural balance of the river. The local administration, public representatives and conscious citizens need to take joint initiatives to protect the environment of the Tangon River and the Saguni Shalban.
The people of Pirganj expect that the Tangon River can survive for future generations by maintaining its natural flow and ecological balance. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to take effective steps quickly to stop activities like illegal sand extraction.