Dhaka, Sept 20 – The government has decided to construct 220-km long walkways alongside the river banks of Buriganga, Turag, Shitlakhya and Balu to stop encroachment. The authority concerned has estimated that it would be needed Tk 800 crore for construction of walkways around the city rivers.
Shipping minister SShahjahanKhan told reporters after a Taskforce meeting formed to protect country’s river from encroachment and pollution held at the secretariat yesterday.
Among others, land minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, environment, forest and climate change minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, liberation affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque and other high officials attended the meeting.
The meeting has also decided not to allow for any new industrial units in Gazipur City Corporation and Narsingdi areas rather such industrial units should be established in economic zones, Shajahan Khan said.
“The river bank’s or canal’s concrete wall should be constructed in straightway instead of slob way. If needed, the driveway should be constructed during construction of walkways, which would help to stop from river bank encroachment” the shipping minister said.
He further said more initiatives would be taken to protect the country’s rivers from pollution and encroachment.
A committee has been formed headed by national river protection commission chairman to solve river boundary problem, the minister said, adding that the committee asked to submit its report within three month before the Taskforce.
“We have already constructed 20-km long walkways alongside the city rivers. Construction of 50-km long walkways will be started from Ashulia on October 5. The authority concerned is now being conducted a study to construct 150-km long walkways,’ Shajahan Khan said.
The shipping minister said three more eco-parks at Ashulia, Shinnirtek and Tongi will be constructed like the eco-parks constructed at Shyampur and kanchpur.
Such establishments are being constructed on reclaimed river banks after eviction—so that unscrupulous people won’t be able to occupy the river land again, the shipping minister observed.
A total of 9,577 river demarcation pillars have so far been installed around the city rivers, the minister said, adding that there are controversy over 3,856 demarcation pillars.
“The authority concerned has already resolved 1,751 demarcation pillars and remaining 2,105 controversial demarcation pillars will be solved within two months,” the shipping minister said.
It is also decided that 10,400 new river demarcation pillars will be installed which size will be big and visible, he added.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has already reclaimed 501.26 acres of river land through eviction. Of them, 307.26 acres around the city rivers and 194 acres in Narayanganj, the
minister said.
The local administration and BIWTA has evicted 9,730 illegal establishments from river banks. Of them, 6,951 are in Dhaka and 2,779 in Narayanganj. – Staff Reporter
