The government has formed two committees to demarcate canals located in the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) areas aiming to identify canal boundaries. The committees have been asked to submit reports within three months.
The Local Government Division (LGD), under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRDC), has formed the committees to identify and demarcate the boundaries of all canals under the jurisdictions of DNCC and DSCC.
The LGD's City Corporation-1 Branch issued an office order on June 11, following a decision taken at an emergency meeting. LGRDC State Minister Mir Shahe Alam chaired it.
The meeting emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to determine canal boundaries, reclaim encroached waterways, and address Dhaka's persistent water-logging.
For the DSCC, an 11-member committee has been constituted with the DSCC chief engineer serving as the convener. The committee includes the DSCC's relevant regional executive officer, additional chief engineer and executive engineer, zonal settlement officer of Dhaka, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Dhaka, and construction supervision consultant.
Representatives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka WASA, Bangladesh Water Development Board, and Roads and Highways Department are also included.
A separate 12-member committee, headed by the DNCC chief engineer, has been formed for the DNCC. Its members include the corporation's relevant regional executive officer, additional chief engineer and executive engineer, zonal settlement officer of Dhaka, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Dhaka, and construction supervision consultant.
Representatives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Dhaka WASA, Rajuk, Bangladesh Water Development Board, and Roads and Highways Department are also members of the committee.
As per the terms of reference, both the committees have been directed to complete the demarcation of all canals within their respective jurisdictions on a priority basis. They must submit detailed reports to the LGD within three months.
The committees may seek advice from the respective city corporation administrators and are authorised to co-opt additional members, if necessary.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
