The government has taken some stringent measures to stop unremitting encroachment upon the banks of the rivers in the immediate surrounds of the capital, official sources said.
Under the move, the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) has taken a project to build walkways, parks and jetties and to keep open spaces on the recovered lands of the riverbanks.
An eviction drive against the encroachers of the banks of the rivers Buriganga, Sitalakhya, Turag and Balu by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is ongoing.
The BIWTA under the MoS is implementing the project costing Tk 8.50 billion to save the rivers from human-made disasters like illegal grabbing and pollution.
The BIWTA has removed a total of 18,000 structures of different sizes illegally built on the banks of the rivers and recovered over 600 acres of land from illegal possession during its eviction drives since 2010 till date, according to the MoS.
A high official of the MoS told the FE that a meeting was held last week at the ministry that reviewed the overall progress in the ongoing eviction drive and development and beautification works of the riverbanks.
He said the meeting decided to adopt a constant monitoring system aiming to stop further grabbing of the riverbanks.
The shipping ministry official further said a joint team of the ministry and the BIWTA lead by the shipping secretary will visit Kholamoraghat under Kamrangirchar, Borobazar at Mirpur embankment, Jahurabad, Palpara and Diaribari points today (Saturday) to inspect the ongoing activities to stop further encroachment upon the riverbanks permanently.
The BIWTA will erect a total of 3,803 boundary pillars on the Dhaka river port areas (Fatullah, Narayanganj to Ashulia (Dhaka via Sadarghat).
It will also erect 2006 boundary pillars in Tongi (Gazipur) river port area.
Besides, jetties will be set up at the Dhaka river port at Sadarghat in the capital to facilitate loading and unloading of goods from small cargos.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com