PM orders continuing drive against river encroachers
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to continue demolition of illegal structures on riverbanks across the country as the government is strongly committed to reviving the water-transport system for easier and cheaper communications, reports UNB.
She also ordered compelling the owners of mills and factories to use effluent-treatment plant to save the rivers and other water bodies from pollution with industrial wastages.
The Prime Minister gave her strict directives while addressing the inaugural session of a seminar arranged by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on the occasion of its golden jubilee, as the grabbing of wetlands, including riverbanks, by influential quarters reportedly still continued.
"All the illegal structures built through occupying the banks of the rivers will have to be dismantled. The ongoing eviction activities will have to be continued. I am also giving order to take strict step so that the reclaimed riverbanks are not occupied again," Sheikh Hasina said.
About the untreated industrial wastages going down the drains, the Prime Minister said every mill and factory must have effluent-treatment plant as the water of the rivers got so much polluted that, even after treatment, these cannot be used for domestic purpose.
With Minister for Shipping and Inland Water Transport Shajahan Khan MP in the chair, the function, held at the city's Osmani Auditorium, was also addressed by Acting Secretary of the ministry M Masud Elahi and BIWTA Chairman M Abdul Mannan Hawlader.
Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, state ministers, members of parliament, diplomats and environmentalists were present. On the occasion, the Prime Minister was presented a crest by the Water Transport Minister.
A documentary film on the country's water-transport system was presented at the function. The documentary showed that the length of inland waterways got squeezed 50 per cent in about last 40 years.
She also ordered compelling the owners of mills and factories to use effluent-treatment plant to save the rivers and other water bodies from pollution with industrial wastages.
The Prime Minister gave her strict directives while addressing the inaugural session of a seminar arranged by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on the occasion of its golden jubilee, as the grabbing of wetlands, including riverbanks, by influential quarters reportedly still continued.
"All the illegal structures built through occupying the banks of the rivers will have to be dismantled. The ongoing eviction activities will have to be continued. I am also giving order to take strict step so that the reclaimed riverbanks are not occupied again," Sheikh Hasina said.
About the untreated industrial wastages going down the drains, the Prime Minister said every mill and factory must have effluent-treatment plant as the water of the rivers got so much polluted that, even after treatment, these cannot be used for domestic purpose.
With Minister for Shipping and Inland Water Transport Shajahan Khan MP in the chair, the function, held at the city's Osmani Auditorium, was also addressed by Acting Secretary of the ministry M Masud Elahi and BIWTA Chairman M Abdul Mannan Hawlader.
Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, state ministers, members of parliament, diplomats and environmentalists were present. On the occasion, the Prime Minister was presented a crest by the Water Transport Minister.
A documentary film on the country's water-transport system was presented at the function. The documentary showed that the length of inland waterways got squeezed 50 per cent in about last 40 years.