Restoring beauty of canals and lakes
Friday, 13 July 2007
Iqbal Mahmud
IT is really a good decision of the government to cancel some allotments of plots on Hatirjheel and Begunbari canals. All, particularly the green activists, should extend their allout support to this move of the government, because they are the ones who have so far been vocal against grabbing of wetlands by different organisations. So, this cancellation of plots in the afore-mentioned areas has come as a victory for the green activists. This is more so because none in the past governments had listened to their repeated call to evict the illegal occupants from these water lands.
Hatirjheel and Begunbari canals have been illegally occupied over the years, worsening the drainage system of the Dhaka city. But it was done taking advantage of the abuse of power by the concerned authority for reasons not unknown to anyone. So when the process of cancellation started with the rejection of the plots of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association and the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre, all concerned would expect that the government would continue their efforts by taking more decisions about other illegal occupants who are still in possession of lands in different lakes and canals.
The immediate-past government had leased out three large plots in Begunbari canal area, a designated flood flow zone, to some influential trade organisations, violating the city master plan and related laws. Still innumerable people and organisations are grabbing lake and canal lands in and around the city. The extent of illegal occupation of lands in the past can easily be seen if one takes a view of those areas from any nearby high-rise building.
So, the citizens would expect that the government will expeditiously settle the matters relating to all earlier illegal allotments in Hatirjheel and Begunbari areas. The city dwellers will expect this to come sooner than later in consideration of the pressing need for ensuring proper drainage of water in and around the city. If would, thus, be in the fitness of things for the government to go for immediate removal of all signboards and walls erected on those lands by the illegal occupants. A beautification plan should be formulated for its immediate implementation so that people can enjoy the beauty of city lakes and canals while passing by these areas.
IT is really a good decision of the government to cancel some allotments of plots on Hatirjheel and Begunbari canals. All, particularly the green activists, should extend their allout support to this move of the government, because they are the ones who have so far been vocal against grabbing of wetlands by different organisations. So, this cancellation of plots in the afore-mentioned areas has come as a victory for the green activists. This is more so because none in the past governments had listened to their repeated call to evict the illegal occupants from these water lands.
Hatirjheel and Begunbari canals have been illegally occupied over the years, worsening the drainage system of the Dhaka city. But it was done taking advantage of the abuse of power by the concerned authority for reasons not unknown to anyone. So when the process of cancellation started with the rejection of the plots of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association and the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre, all concerned would expect that the government would continue their efforts by taking more decisions about other illegal occupants who are still in possession of lands in different lakes and canals.
The immediate-past government had leased out three large plots in Begunbari canal area, a designated flood flow zone, to some influential trade organisations, violating the city master plan and related laws. Still innumerable people and organisations are grabbing lake and canal lands in and around the city. The extent of illegal occupation of lands in the past can easily be seen if one takes a view of those areas from any nearby high-rise building.
So, the citizens would expect that the government will expeditiously settle the matters relating to all earlier illegal allotments in Hatirjheel and Begunbari areas. The city dwellers will expect this to come sooner than later in consideration of the pressing need for ensuring proper drainage of water in and around the city. If would, thus, be in the fitness of things for the government to go for immediate removal of all signboards and walls erected on those lands by the illegal occupants. A beautification plan should be formulated for its immediate implementation so that people can enjoy the beauty of city lakes and canals while passing by these areas.