Govt likely to reopen Mongla, Ghasiakhali channel by June

The government could dredge some 40 per cent of the Mongla-Ghasiakhali river channel in last four months after an oil-tanker sank in the Shela river inside the Sundarbans in December, spilling 350,000 litres of furnace oil, officials said.
Some 16 government and private sector dredgers are working there, and the government is now hopeful of reopening the channel for plying vessels by June, they added.
However, local lawmaker Talukder Abdul Khaleque alleged lack of coordination in the work, which is making its progress slower.
Sources said at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on ministry of shipping on Thursday members have expressed dismay over slow pace of the work as well as non-arrangement of compensation for affected local people.
Replying to a query Mr Haque said the dredging work is being done in consultation with Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
"We are not going to excavate and remove silt from the entire river, it's not necessary."
He said some Tk 24.7 million has already been given as compensation to people, most of whom took 'khas' land allotment from the government.
"We have received application from another 21 people. They will be given compensation also."
Replying to another question regarding the BIWTA-owned dredgers' sitting idle, Mr Haque said the allegation is not true.
"Separate areas are allocated for the government and the private sector dredgers. There is no scope to avoid responsibility."
Asked about the Prime Minister's Office's (PMO) directive to fill up the land of second Rampal power plant with mud and sand from the Mongla-Ghasiakhali channel he said they will examine the mud and sand before using those. "All mud and sand are not suitable for filing up power plant land."
Mr Haque hoped that the channel will be reopened by June.
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