Recovery of Dhaka canals uncertain
Saturday, 23 October 2010
The government is unlikely to meet its October deadline to free six Dhaka canals from the hands of land grabbers, reports bdnews24.com.
Only one among the six canals surrounding the capital has so far been recovered, while the district authorities could not even start the drive for the remaining five.
Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority is helping the district administration in the recovery work.
The six canals are: Katashur, Kalyanpur A and Kalyanpur C, Shyampur, Ramchandrapur and Hazaribagh canals.
A drive to free the Ramchandrapur canal of Mohammadpur, scheduled to be executed on October 20, was postponed. A similar effort on October 18 also could not be carried out due to opposition from some freedom fighters.
Paribesh Banchao Andolan President Abu Naser Khan said that some 'invisible forces' were behind the delay in the canal recovery.
Khan, who is also a member of the national taskforce to preserve navigability of rivers and rivulets, added, "The taskforce decided to free the six canals by October. But two-thirds of the month has already passed."
Khan apprehended that the deadline would not be met.
"Some invisible forces must have hands behind the impediment. The government should take stern actions in this regard," he said.
Regarding the Ramchan-drapur canal, Khan said, "The canals should be freed from grabbers, if possible, by relocating the freedom fighters somewhere else," otherwise, he added, the decision taken by the taskforce would be called into question.
The taskforce, on September 29, had taken a decision to free six canals surrounding Dhaka by October. The meeting also asked the district authorities to take immediate actions in this regard.
Corresponding to that decision, the authorities waged a drive against unauthorised establishments along the Katashur canal in the city's Mohammadpur area.
Demolition of illegal constructions on Ramchandrapur canal, also in the Mohammadpur area, could not be performed following a request from the freedom fighters, who had occupied the land, to allow them more time to relocate.
Dhaka Deputy Comm-issioner Muhibul Haque said, "Due to some problems, we could not launch the drive on Oct 20 along the Katashur canal." However, on October 18, he had said that the drive was suspended as the freedom fighters sought more time.
Asked when the drive may resume, Haque said, "It will be decided after visiting the site of the canal."
Commenting on the four other canals, he said, "Illegal establishments along those rivers are being marked." He, however, could not confirm the exact date of for drives either.
Only one among the six canals surrounding the capital has so far been recovered, while the district authorities could not even start the drive for the remaining five.
Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority is helping the district administration in the recovery work.
The six canals are: Katashur, Kalyanpur A and Kalyanpur C, Shyampur, Ramchandrapur and Hazaribagh canals.
A drive to free the Ramchandrapur canal of Mohammadpur, scheduled to be executed on October 20, was postponed. A similar effort on October 18 also could not be carried out due to opposition from some freedom fighters.
Paribesh Banchao Andolan President Abu Naser Khan said that some 'invisible forces' were behind the delay in the canal recovery.
Khan, who is also a member of the national taskforce to preserve navigability of rivers and rivulets, added, "The taskforce decided to free the six canals by October. But two-thirds of the month has already passed."
Khan apprehended that the deadline would not be met.
"Some invisible forces must have hands behind the impediment. The government should take stern actions in this regard," he said.
Regarding the Ramchan-drapur canal, Khan said, "The canals should be freed from grabbers, if possible, by relocating the freedom fighters somewhere else," otherwise, he added, the decision taken by the taskforce would be called into question.
The taskforce, on September 29, had taken a decision to free six canals surrounding Dhaka by October. The meeting also asked the district authorities to take immediate actions in this regard.
Corresponding to that decision, the authorities waged a drive against unauthorised establishments along the Katashur canal in the city's Mohammadpur area.
Demolition of illegal constructions on Ramchandrapur canal, also in the Mohammadpur area, could not be performed following a request from the freedom fighters, who had occupied the land, to allow them more time to relocate.
Dhaka Deputy Comm-issioner Muhibul Haque said, "Due to some problems, we could not launch the drive on Oct 20 along the Katashur canal." However, on October 18, he had said that the drive was suspended as the freedom fighters sought more time.
Asked when the drive may resume, Haque said, "It will be decided after visiting the site of the canal."
Commenting on the four other canals, he said, "Illegal establishments along those rivers are being marked." He, however, could not confirm the exact date of for drives either.