Jaintapur (Sylhet) Correspondent //

A crusher mill has been set up in the middle of a residential area in Jaintapur Upazila of Sylhet, causing environmental damage without any regard for the rules and in an unplanned manner.

A plant named Matin Stone Crusher Mill Limited, owned by Messrs. Matin Construction, was set up a few years ago in the Alubagan Mokambari area of ​​Jaintapur Union in Jaintapur Upazila.

From the beginning, the locals have complained that the crusher mill was set up very close to the residential area and no water was used during crushing.

When they went to the ground, they saw that a large double plant crusher machine was set up at the entrance of the Mokambari Alubagan Mahalla, Alubagan, Majhhanti, and Daudatilla areas.

About 250 families, including Hindus and Muslims, live in three or four Mahallas. The place where the mill is set up. There is a temple of traditional religions within 200 meters of the mill. Where religious education is given to pre-primary school children of the Hindu community every morning.

Moreover, the crusher mill is loaded with huge stones with an automatic autoloaded system using a feludar machine. So that the surrounding area shakes with a loud noise in the middle of the night.

Rinku Rani Pal, a traditional religion teacher of Mokambari Pre-Primary School, said that since the puja mandap is a little lower, dust like rain enters the temple every day. She complained that the mill owner authorities do not provide even a little water.

Local housewife Lucky Rani Pal said, my daughter is an SSC examinee. They run the mill continuously from morning till 8 pm and more. In the meantime, my daughter has regular headaches. Moreover, she said that most of the children in this neighborhood are suffering from respiratory problems and skin diseases.

Shri Nitya Lal, General Secretary of Mokambari Durga Temple, said, “There are many mills under two big associations in Jaintapur Upazila. We see that every morning the mill starts and closes in the evening. But the Matin Construction mill is not paying any attention to any rules. Rather, they are running the mill in a way that damages the environment by exerting some invisible influence. He also said that even though the mill is closed after nine or ten at night, stone loading continues with a feluder. As a result, the entire area shakes with loud noises until late at night. The place where the mill has been set up is said to be government land. How was the mill set up here is the question in the public’s mind now?

Syed Shamim Ahmed, an Indian limestone import and export businessman in the Mokambari Potato Garden area, said that even though they have repeatedly told us to run the mill with water, they are not paying any attention to it. Rather, they are running the mill from dawn to ten at night by force, causing environmental damage. Due to a mill in the current Alubagan area, the surrounding forest trees have turned white with dust. At one time, many people used to cultivate betel in this area, but they have also abandoned that. There are many betel trees, and as soon as the harvest comes, the harvest is being destroyed due to dust.

He also said that the locals, who had been silent until now due to their influence and power, have now become vocal. The locals are now demanding the removal of the Matin Construction mill from the place, thinking about the future health protection of their children.

He also said that a memorandum with the signatures of the locals was submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer last Tuesday to prevent environmental disaster and for the people of Alubagan Mohalla to live in peace.

When asked about the complaints of the locals, the manager of Matin Construction Crusher Mill, Maksudur Rahman, refused to comment as there were no instructions from the owner authority. When asked for the mobile number of Abdul Wahed, the owner of the crusher mill, he expressed his inability to provide it.

Jaintapur Upazila Executive Officer Umme Salik Rumaiya said that she has received complaints from locals of Mokabari Alubagan area. She confirmed that instructions have already been given to the Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) to take necessary action in this regard.