FE Report
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq has sought support of the local lawmaker on Friday to solve water congestion problem on Kalshi Road at Mirpur in the capital.
The mayor, however, noted that drains and canals under the city corporation have been occupied by some local influential people. They have not only grabbed the canals and drains but also built houses and different structures on those, hampering smooth drainage there.
He made the call after Dhaka-16 lawmaker Iliyas Uddin Mollah urged the mayor to solve the water congestion problem at Kalshi during 'Cleanliness Council' of DNCC on Zone-4 premises at Mirpur-10.
The programme was organised to create awareness among the city corporation's scavengers to keep the capital clean during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
"We know influential people close the canals, grab those and build houses there. If you (Iliyas Mollah) ensure that no canal will be occupied and no house will be constructed on drains and canals, even the cleaners will not need to clean the city," said the mayor.
He said out of 1,200 km of drains under the city corporation, 800 km is closed with garbage thrown by households, markets, shops, schools and colleges.
"We will no more allow them to throw waste to the drains, and will give them one to two months time to use specific waste beans. I humbly request you to keep your own area clean."
"All the citizens of DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) will cooperate with us, so that we need not apply any force."
"We are removing billboards forcibly, but we do not want to apply force on the households, schools, colleges or labourers. If we need to apply force, the government is ready to do that," said the mayor.
Iliyas Uddin Mollah, who was present as one of the special guests at the programme, said Kalshi area gets submerged even after a short rainfall, as no canal is there after housing project.
"The canal is dug as per the design of the housing on Kalshi Road. After the housing there is no canal. I have communicated with various ministries, who told me that canals can be made only after acquisition."
"I request you to dig canals by acquiring land properly and ensure water drainage from Kalshi," said Mr Mollah.
He assured the mayor of cooperating in making the city clean and green.
Local Government Department Secretary Abdul Malek said the government is firm to make Dhaka city clean, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated Tk 30 billion for development of DNCC.
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