Aiming at smooth plying of vessels through Mongla-Ghasiakhali river channel, the ministry of shipping (MoS) has sought special allocation of Tk 750 million to carry out dredging throughout the current fiscal year, officials have said.
The special allocation has been sought as consultancy agency of the channel, Centre for Environment and Geographic Information Service (CEGIS), has suggested continuous dredging of the channel to keep it navigable, they added.
It said some 3.0 million cubic feet maintenance dredging has to be carried out every year to ensure smooth plying of vessels through the channel.
Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Mozammel Haque told the FE Wednesday that the channel was now open for both big and small-sized vessels.
He said since the first week of October, some 414 big and 8,070 medium-sized vessels plied though the river channel.      Â
Mr Haque said water from the Pasur river comes with heavy silt to the channel. The high degree of siltation makes the channel non-navigable quickly. "So, we have to keep some maintenance dredging working there always."
He said canals linked to the river channel have to be opened so that water can keep flowing through them. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) is working on for taking a Tk 8.0 billion project to dredge and open the canals and create tidal basin.
Mr Haque said presently the river channel is 200 feet wide and has four meter draft. Dredging is going on to make the channel 300 feet wide. "After dredging of the channel is over, the Shela river will be closed permanently to plying of vessels. All vessels will ply through Mongla-Ghasiakhali river channel then."
The necessity of dredging of Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel drew attention in December last year after an oil tanker sank in the Shela river inside the Sundabans spilling 350,000 litres of furnace oil.
Meanwhile, the MoS has started investigating allegations of corruption against the BIWTA in carrying out dredging of rivers across the country including Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel, and in procurement of dredger and aluminium workboat.
The allegations also include procurement of sub-standard dredgers, their low performance, and payment of bills to private dredger companies without proper monitoring. Officials said many of the dredgers of the BIWTA remains inoperative for most of the time as they need repeated maintenance due to their low quality.
When his attention was drawn, BIWTA chairman Mr Haque said the ministry can take action after investigation if any allegation is found true.
He said bills are paid to private dredging companies after pre and post survey of works by consulting company. "There is no scope of misappropriation of money from there."
"We will send necessary documents to the ministry soon as sought," Mr Haque said.
   syful-islam@outlook.com
Tk 750m sought to keep river channel navigable
Syful Islam | Published: November 12, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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