Gas Pipeline Installation: Govt to fell 13,356 trees in Gazipur

Dhaka desk: The government is going to cut down 13,356 Sal and Gajari trees for installing gas pipelines in 3km area between Sreepur and Joydebpur of Gazipur.

The decision was made in a cabinet meeting after the forest department placed the proposal to cut down the trees.

State-owned Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company would install the line, said Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Shafiul said  the gas company would have to plant double the number of trees cut down in the area to compensate the loss of trees.

The decision came at a time when the Sal Forest of Gazipur, popularly known as Bhawal Sal Forest, is facing a threat of severe depletion of trees due to poor government policy and inaction of the forest department.

The forest is facing various threats, including human settlement, industrialisation and illegal logging.

According to the cabinet decision, about 4,011 matured trees and 9,345 saplings would be felled for the supply line installation.

The meeting also gave the final approval to the draft of the Ansar Battalion (Amendment) Act- 2016.

Shafiul said after enactment of the law, job of an Ansar member would be confirmed after six years of his service, which is still nine years.

The cabinet meeting adopted an obituary resolution expressing profound shock at the death of former ICT minister and civil servant Mostafa Faruque Mohammad.