bdnews24.com reported that the Department of Environment has fined Bangladesh Steel Re rolling Mill BDT 4.05 million for illegally cutting Jorarganj hills at Mirsarai Upazila in Chittagong district and harming the environment.

Chittagong Divisional director of DoE Mr Jafar Alam fined the mill after a hearing at the department's Chittagong office in presence of the mill's top officials.

Mr Alam told bdnews24.com that the fine was slapped on BSRM, the country's one of the biggest steel and re rolling mills, as a DoE enforcement team on September 1st 2012 got evidence that the mill was cutting hills without any approval at Jorarganj in the Upazila and thus causing harms to the surrounding environment.

Later, the BSRM management was served a notice to take part in a hearing at the DoE office in the port city on September 26th 2012.

The official of the environment watchdog said BSRM was asked to pay the fine money within September 30th 2012 and to fill up the cut away portion of the hill with earth and bring it back to its original shape soon.

The same day, the DoE also realized BDT 1 million in fine from a housing project titled 'Patia Model Town' for operating illegal brickfield and housing project without DoE clearance at Patia in the district.

Source - bdnews24.com

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