Toma Group, two individuals fined Tk50cr for cutting hills in Ctg

The Department of Environment (DoE) fined Toma Group and two individuals a total of Tk50 crore for razing around 22 million cubic feet of hills for a rail track project in Chattogram’s Lohagara upazila.

The fine was imposed after the fourth round of hearings at the Chattogram district office of the DoE on Wednesday evening.

The enterprise is Toma Construction and Company Ltd, a concern of Toma Group, and the individuals are Md Illias of Ms Hasan International, a local contractor, and Md Mofizur Rahman, project director of Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar Railway Line.

The railways authority was given the go-ahead to raze hills for the construction of the Dohazari-Cox's Bazar rail track.

But the Toma Group, the construction firm, destroyed hills beyond the approved limit, said DoE’s Chittagong Region Director Moazzam Hossain, adding that 22 million cubic feet of hills were cut near Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Department is also taking the initiative to file a case under the Environment Act.