NRCC yet to be fully functional for lack of logistic support

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Talha Bin Habib | Published: November 07, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

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The National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) is yet to start its full functioning after two months of its formation due to lack of logistic support and required number of manpower, officials said.
It has now only two members out of five and the existing number of officials is inadequate. Actually the commission needs around 50 to 60 officials.
Apart from the logistic support and manpower, the NRCC is yet to prepare an organogram to make the organisation fully functional.  
Admitting the facts, the top boss of the NRCC said they just started the work with the initial government financial allocation of Tk 23.7 million.      
He said that they will go for practical work after taking a decision with other stakeholders in the forthcoming meeting to be held next week.
 "There will be an interministerial/ task force meeting on November 12. Officials from different ministries and departments will be attending the meeting. We will take decision on our course of action for protecting rivers," Chairman of NRCC Md Atharul Islam told the FE.     
 "We could execute our tasks properly if we get logistics supports from the government and cooperation from the stakeholders," he added.
The government passed the NRCC Act 2013 in parliament last year with the core objectives of saving the rivers from pollution and freeing river banks from illegal possession that have posed a serious threat to the socio-economic life of the country.
And on September 3 last the government launched the NRCC attaching top priority to save the rivers from encroachment and free from pollution to ensure the natural flow of rivers as well as to rejuvenate the riverine economic activities.
The NRCC will also coordinate the activities of different ministries and departments and provide suggestions for protecting the rivers and ensuring multi-dimensional uses of rivers for socio-economic development of the country.
The Chairman of the NRCC said that his organisation will free the river banks from the clutches of the land grabbers and make pollution free at any cost to ensure healthy environment.  
He said many influential people are involved in river encroachment, posing a serious threat to the country's economy and environment.
Asked when the NRCC will go for practical work he said, "Initially, we will start work soon to save the river Buriganga from pollution and encroachment. And later on, it will go for river Balu, Turag and others".
He said the NRCC will build walkways on the banks of the river to prevent further encroachment and will seal the origin points that release solid wastes to make the river free from pollution.   
He said that they will bring back the original shape/ features of the river Buriganga, the lifeline of the capital.   
The government has so far evicted 3,500 illegal structures built on the river banks around the city, according to the Ministry of Shipping.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com