In this regard, he said legal actions would be taken against the culprits through mobile court drives soon.

He was addressing at an inter-departmental meeting held at Chittagong Circuit House.

Director General (DG) of Environment Department Dr Khandaker Rashedul Hoque, Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong Mokhlesur Rahman and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ashraf Shamim also addressed the meeting among others.

Senior officials from divisional offices of both Environment and Forest departments were present at the meeting.

Environment secretary said the two committees formed earlier led by the Chairman of Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) respectively would be made active again in order to collect information about the condition of hills in both the port city and the district.

He said four sub-committees, two administrative and two technical, would be formed under supervision of the two mentioned committees comprising representatives from different departments including environment, forest, CDA, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Police, legal advisor and others.

"The technical sub-committees would work in field level in the city and the district to collect information including on what purpose and to whom the hills were leased out, the present situation of the leases and whether any contract was violated or not," Environment secretary said adding that the administrative sub-committees would take necessary steps and legal action in this regard.

He further informed that steps would be taken soon to make the environment court more effective.

When asked Divisional Commissioner Mokhlesur Rahman told The Daily Star that they would start drives against hill cutting through mobile court within two or three days.