Mining

China clay in Durgapur

Precious China clay, the raw material for ceramic products, is found only in Netrakona District in the country. A deposit of over two hundred thousand tons alone is located in a mine spread over eight kilometers in length and one kilometer in breadth near Bijoypur under Durgapur Upazila. The Netrakona Chamber of Commerce appealed several times to different governments, asking for support to build up a ceramic industry in Netrakona District, but this went unheard, as well as the complaints about the irresponsible methods used by the four Dhaka-based ceramic companies, which extract the soil under five-year leasing conditions. Hill erosion and massive destruction of the environment is the result of indifferent and unprofessional behavior, which harms mainly the local Garo tribals who inhabit the area. A main point of critique is that the companies do not locate the depots before mining, but just dig up the whole area. When they find clay, they dig as deep as they can because the quality if the clay is better in the lower levels. However, this behavior will sooner or later cause a disaster because of hill erosion. The clay is extracted in the dry season and stored in heaps nearby. Huge amounts are just washed away by rain, before it can be shipped and transported to Dhaka in the wet season. Further more, it is alleged, that the clay is also smuggled to India. The border is only half a mile away.

This very rare deposit of natural resources could be a real chance to reinforce the development of the Durgapur area. However, it would need a locally based management for its exploitation and use.