Plea for exemplary punishment to illegal land grabbers
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
FE Report
Speakers Monday urged the government to give exemplary punishment to those who are involved in illegal grabbing of riverbanks, haor areas, lakesides and wetlands in the country.
They said such a move will discourage land grabbers and at the same time ensure smooth flow of water, its easy availability and good governance in the water resources.
Speakers were speaking at a colloquium on good governance on water resources: want transparency and accountability organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at National Press Club in the city.
TIB sources said some 1200 influential people had grabbed around 800 acres alongside six rivers including the Buriganga.
TIB Chairman Professor Muzaffar Ahmed said people in general have already launched a campaign to free the country's 160 rivers from illegal and forcible occupation.
"We have launched a river movement throughout the country to free 160 riverbanks from grabbers and ensure ecological balance," Muzaffar added.
He also said realtors should be discouraged to construct buildings rampantly in the cities.
Addressing the roundtable, director general of Water Development Board (WDB) Abul Kalam Mohammed Azad said the main reasons in attaining good governance in water resources were inefficient management and unequal distribution of water.
He however stressed the need for public-private partnership in the projects of water resources.
WDB chief claimed that a high-powered committee had been formed to oversee the activities of different projects taken by the board.
Vice Chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology Fazlul Bari said the government should take a move to expedite the execution of water policy enacted in 1999.
Former secretary ASM Al Hussaini said there is a need to ensure availability of water from both surface and underground.
"We see that corruption stems from crisis, so we must ensure availability of water to minimise corruption in water resources," Hussaini added.
Md Rafiqul Islam, a programme official at the TIB, presented the keynote paper on the issue.
He advocated that national water law should be finalised through participation of all stakeholders.
He also suggested that a long term plan is needed to resolve the crisis of pure drinking water especially in the urban areas.
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman moderated the roundtable.
Speakers Monday urged the government to give exemplary punishment to those who are involved in illegal grabbing of riverbanks, haor areas, lakesides and wetlands in the country.
They said such a move will discourage land grabbers and at the same time ensure smooth flow of water, its easy availability and good governance in the water resources.
Speakers were speaking at a colloquium on good governance on water resources: want transparency and accountability organised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at National Press Club in the city.
TIB sources said some 1200 influential people had grabbed around 800 acres alongside six rivers including the Buriganga.
TIB Chairman Professor Muzaffar Ahmed said people in general have already launched a campaign to free the country's 160 rivers from illegal and forcible occupation.
"We have launched a river movement throughout the country to free 160 riverbanks from grabbers and ensure ecological balance," Muzaffar added.
He also said realtors should be discouraged to construct buildings rampantly in the cities.
Addressing the roundtable, director general of Water Development Board (WDB) Abul Kalam Mohammed Azad said the main reasons in attaining good governance in water resources were inefficient management and unequal distribution of water.
He however stressed the need for public-private partnership in the projects of water resources.
WDB chief claimed that a high-powered committee had been formed to oversee the activities of different projects taken by the board.
Vice Chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology Fazlul Bari said the government should take a move to expedite the execution of water policy enacted in 1999.
Former secretary ASM Al Hussaini said there is a need to ensure availability of water from both surface and underground.
"We see that corruption stems from crisis, so we must ensure availability of water to minimise corruption in water resources," Hussaini added.
Md Rafiqul Islam, a programme official at the TIB, presented the keynote paper on the issue.
He advocated that national water law should be finalised through participation of all stakeholders.
He also suggested that a long term plan is needed to resolve the crisis of pure drinking water especially in the urban areas.
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman moderated the roundtable.