Govt likely to start dev work of three reclaimed canals

Sonia H Moni The government is likely to start the development work of three city canals by the end of this year in a bid to stop waterlogging and saving those from the land grabbers, officials said. "The three city canals are - Zirani, Segunbagicha and Mohakhali. The illegal establishment eviction drives of Zirani and Mohakhali city canals have been completed," Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) executive Engineer (operation and maintenance, division-two) Sheikh Md Ruhul Amin told the FE. "We are conducting the eviction drive of Segunbagicha which will be completed within 7 or 8 days. The drawing and design work of these canals have been completed and the tender evaluation process has also been completed." He said: "The work order for permanently protecting the canals will be provided soon and the work is expected to start by December this year." Dhaka WASA is implementing the project on canals with financial support from the World Bank. The World Bank is providing Tk 11 billion for different projects including the one on city canals. The estimated cost of the total reconstruction of these three canals is Tk 180 million. Dhaka WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan told the FE: "We have taken some steps to keep all the canals free from the grabbers and ensure free flow of water. Primarily, we will work to protect 13 city canals." "We worked to free these water bodies from the grabbers but unfortunately, it went back to the grabbers' hands. But this time we have decided to make concrete footpaths and plant trees on both sides of the canals to protect the same permanently from the grabbers," he said. "At the same time, we will excavate these canals to ensure free flow of water and stop waterlogging", he added. The development work of Khilgaon-Bashabo, Abdullahpur, Shutibhola, Shahjadpur and Baunia canals involving Tk 340 million started last year which is scheduled to be finished by the middle of 2012, according to Dhaka WASA. Meanwhile, the tender evaluation process of city canal named Manda is on-going and the authority is now working on drawing and designing work plan of canals namely Kalyanpur main canal, Kalyanpur five sub-canals and Rupnagar (Mirpur Section 2 to Digun) canal.