Unregulated white clay mining in Netrakona and Mymensingh is damaging the environment and displacing people of ethnic minorities and Bengalis as well, alleged a team of citizens’ representatives on Saturday.
The team of citizens’ representatives visited Durgapur of Netrakona and Dhubaora of Mymensingh between April 8 and 10 and presented their findings on the visit at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
The team demanded that compensation be paid to families who were forced from their homes by clay mining in the area. They also suggested that the government prepare a list of affected families and trace them.
On July 19, 2017, the team reported that the High Court had prohibited white clay mining at three locations near Durgapur, without having been approved by the government.
The High Court ruled that white clay miners must have an environment plan, and an environment certificate in order to operate in the three locations of Netrakona.
However, white clay mining continues to be carried out in other areas of the two districts. The team also stated in its presentation that the clay is often dumped on farmland.
The team stated that excavated white clay is often kept in mounds which can affect natural drainage of water and cause water logging of agricultural land.
The team stated that unabated clay mining in the river Someshwari threatens to kill the river. They also demanded that existing laws be properly enforced to protect the environment in the district.
During the visit, the team met families of Hajong, Mandi, Bengali communities.
The team stated that mining hillocks can often leave deep holes, which is a death trap for people, particularly for children. They also said that 37 people have died from falling into such holes since 1974.
The white clay mining has led to 11 Hajong families being displaced from Bogaora, Durgapur in the last 15-years, according to the team.
The members of the citizens’ representative team included Dhaka University teachers Robaet Ferdous and Zobaida Nasreen, Nagarik Uddyog chief executive Zakir Hossain and Dipayon Khisa of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum.