River taskforce to seek PM’s help
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) have been filling up portions of Baunia and Ramchandrapur canals to build roads in another instance of violation of environmental laws by government agencies.
The river taskforce yesterday expressed concern over the filling up of the two canals and decided to inform the prime minister about it.
“If they do not stop such activities, I don’t see any other option but to draw the prime minister’s attention,” said Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, who chaired the meeting of the taskforce at his ministry’s auditorium in the capital.
Rajuk filled up a portion of Baunia canal to construct an approach road for its Purbachal project while the DCC is filling up Ramchandrapur canal to build a road in Mohammadpur area, said officials of Wasa and Water Development Board.
These activities clearly go against the government policy to save the water bodies in and around the capital.
On assumption of office, the present government made the environmental laws tougher and launched drives against river encroachers. But little did they improve the situation.
Filling up of water bodies by government agencies goes unabated despite the prime minister’s directives to save them from encroachment and pollution.
The Daily Star ran reports on filling up of the Balu river by the Rajuk to build a bridge without environmental clearance in May and filling up of flood plains in Savar by the DCC to make a dumping ground. It also reported filling up of the Buriganga river by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to construct a market at Sadarghat.
The taskforce decided to hold a meeting next month with officials of government agencies and ministries to find ways to stop pollution and encroachment of water bodies.
It voiced concern at the filling up of water bodies and unplanned dredging by sand traders.
Sand traders are doing extensive earth filling in water bodies in and around the city. They should be checked, said the shipping minister.
Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira echoed the shipping minister.
BIWTA Chairman Abdul Malek Mia said once sand traders get permission to do business for a year, they continue it for years by getting court orders in their favour.
The taskforce asked Dhaka, Gazipur, Munshiganj and Narayanganj administration to put up pillars on undisputed land on the banks of the Buriganga, Turag, Dhaleshwari, Shitalakkhya and Balu to demarcate river foreshores.
Officials of Munshiganj and Narayanganj administration told the taskforce that they have already installed 70 percent of the boundary pillars on river banks.
The Dhaka deputy commissioner said they would complete the demarcation of river foreshores by September and then install pillars.
Officials of Gazipur administration that installed over 300 pillars sought intervention of the land ministry for demarcation of foreshores of the Turag and Balu.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
