Saving Buriganga from land-grabbers
Friday, 17 October 2008
THE Buriganga at present is in a threatened state of existence. The threat that it faces is from encroachment by land-grabbers. Its natural flow has been obstructed because its bed has risen due to earth-filling and setting up of all kinds of unauthorised structures on such lands thus occupied. As a result of such encroachment, the river has become narrower and it has taken canal-like appearance in many places as it flows past the city. The way the encroachments have grown, the river flow will ultimately be completely blocked if the practice is allowed for some more time.
Clearly, there is a point in saving the Buriganga from the encroachers. It is relevant to mention here that only eviction will not serve any purpose, if it is not followed up by concrete plans to prevent reoccupation by the encroachers. A similar eviction by another caretaker government in the past proved to be fruitless against the backdrop of reoccupation of the recovered lands soon after the end of its tenure. Therefore, a similar experience must not be repeated again.
Probably, a well-paved circular road all the way along the banks, plus planting of trees and creation of riverside natural parks can be attempted by the present caretaker government to consolidate the encroachment-free conditions after the eviction drive. More significant would be completing all legal arrangements and the setting up of all sorts of checks and physical barriers so that the encroachers find no opportunity to again occupy these places after this government leaves office. In sum, the post-eviction conditions should be made a permanent feature for their salubrious effect on the environment of the city.
Ruhul Amin
Testuribazar, Tejgaon,
Dhaka
Clearly, there is a point in saving the Buriganga from the encroachers. It is relevant to mention here that only eviction will not serve any purpose, if it is not followed up by concrete plans to prevent reoccupation by the encroachers. A similar eviction by another caretaker government in the past proved to be fruitless against the backdrop of reoccupation of the recovered lands soon after the end of its tenure. Therefore, a similar experience must not be repeated again.
Probably, a well-paved circular road all the way along the banks, plus planting of trees and creation of riverside natural parks can be attempted by the present caretaker government to consolidate the encroachment-free conditions after the eviction drive. More significant would be completing all legal arrangements and the setting up of all sorts of checks and physical barriers so that the encroachers find no opportunity to again occupy these places after this government leaves office. In sum, the post-eviction conditions should be made a permanent feature for their salubrious effect on the environment of the city.
Ruhul Amin
Testuribazar, Tejgaon,
Dhaka