Rivers Turag, Balu
Grabbers feast on faulty demarcation
The demarcation of the rivers Turag and Balu is grossly flawed, and if the authorities do not take prompt measures to rectify it, both the rivers will disappear, the task force for saving the four rivers around the capital was told yesterday at its 23rd meeting.
“Demarcation of the Buriganga and Shitalakhya has not raised serious questions but the way the Turag and Balu have been demarcated, they will cease to exist in the near future,” said Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Samsuddoha Khondaker, who is also a member of the task force.
Echoing his views, MA Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), said they have conducted a survey along the Turag and Balu, and found that 98 percent of the demarcation pillars have been installed in the rivers. “With such demarcation, we are paving the way for grabbers to take over the rivers,” he added.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, also head of the task force, who chaired the meeting, proposed formation of yet another high-powered committee to investigate the matter.
An eight-member committee was then formed, comprising top bureaucrats and representatives from Bapa and Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba). The committee was given 30 working days to report back on the two rivers.
Previously two committees had been formed by the Gazipur district administration but that did not bring any results.
Officials present at yesterday’s meeting criticised Dhaka Wasa for not taking any steps to stop discharging liquid waste into the rivers. When a top Wasa official said they were trying to procure funds for a sewerage master plan, other officials came down heavily on him.
“We have been hearing about the master plan for the last 10 years. Wasa is making people pay for sewerage service but it is not doing anything to stop polluting our rivers.” said one official.
-With The Daily Star input
