To avert possible landslide-related casualties during the monsoon season, the eviction drive against illegal human settlements on different hills slopes of Chittagong city is going to resume today.
The decision was made at the 16th meeting of Hill Management Committee at the office of Chittagong divisional commissioner on Monday.
As part of the drive, the authorities will sever the utility connections – power, gas and water – to the illegal settlements.
The meeting also identified 30 hills in the city which are at high risk of landslides during monsoon.
With Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Ruhul Amin in chair, the meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of Environment, the Department of Forest, the Fire Service, Chittagong City Corporation, Chittagong Development Authority, Bangladesh Railway, Power Development Board, Chittagong Wasa and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd.
Many slums have been constructed on the slopes of the hills in Chittagong, which are home to mainly RMG workers, rickshaw pullers and day labourers.
Politically influential individuals have also built slums on government land to rent them out to low-income people.
Landslides triggered by heavy rain in and around Chittagong have claimed at least 194 lives in the last 10 years.
At least 127 people lost their lives in a single catastrophic landslide on June 11, 2007.
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