Saving rivers from death throes

Bangladesh is vocal in many national and international fora about environment and climate change. Some important environment initiatives and projects have been undertaken over the last two decades. Some improvements have taken place in some respects, but results are not tangible in many areas.
The National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) was adopted in 2005 to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In 2009, the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was adopted. In the aftermath of Sidr in 2007, a Climate Change Fund (CCF) of Tk 3.0 billion was created in 2008. In 2009-10, the government allocated Tk 7.0 billion to this Fund. A cumulative amount of Tk. 27 billion was allocated to the CCF until fiscal year (FY) 2013-14. Later, with the assistance of development partners, the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) was created. As per requirement of the Climate Change Trust Act, 2010, 66 per cent of the fund can be utilised for implementation of projects to be approved by the Climate Change Trustee Board. As per available information, 270 projects were approved by the Trustee Board until March 2014. Among these, 63 projects were awarded to NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and 207 projects given to different government agencies. The donors, on the other hand, donated US$ 190 million to the multi-donor trust fund called Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) created in 2011.
Six projects are reportedly being implemented with finance from the BCCRF. The six projects, according to Bangladesh Economic Review, are: (1) multipurpose cyclone shelter project under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operative, (2) modern food storage facilities project under the Food and Disaster Management Ministry, (3) solar irrigation programme - a green energy initiative by IDCOL (Infrastructure Development Company Limited) under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, (4) agriculture adaptation in climate risk-prone (drought, flood and saline) areas of Bangladesh under the Directorate of Agriculture Extension, (5) community climate change project under Pall Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and (6) climate-resilient participatory afforestation and reforestation project under the Directorate of Forests. These are investment projects. Efforts for their successful implementation are required.
Most of the projects under the Climate Change Trust Fund created by the government are, however, of technical nature with some pilot activities like waste management, clean development mechanism (CDM), community adaptation and etc.
Environment is a vast subject. Its development and preservation are also critical. Prioritisation is, therefore, very important. Among dozens of issues, the protection of rivers on one hand and the conservation of their water, on the other, are very important.
The encroachment and filling of rivers and canals by land grabbers have become the order of the day. Everybody in Bangladesh knows that most of the canals in cities do not exist any more. Some small rivers have gone extinct. Almost all rivers in Bangladesh are ecologically in critical condition. The Buriganga, the Turag and the Balu rivers around Dhaka City, are biologically dead. The Sitalakhya in greater Dhaka, the Karnaphuli in Chittagong and the Poshur in Khulna are critically endangered.
All the big rivers - the Padma, the Meghna, the Brahmaputra and the Jamuna - are being squeezed. When one passes through big bridges over the Meghna and the Jamuna, one sees the pitiable conditions of these mighty rivers. There are chars on both sides along the bridges. Not only trees have grown but also cottages have been found to have been built. Some land grabbers (individuals, traders and factory owners) are grabbing foreshore areas of the rivers. They do not care about anybody. Those who are responsible for protection of rivers are found to be helpless. This is due to various reasons. These may be due to their utter negligence of duty, lack of finance and manpower and political pressure and connivance.
There are clear guidelines and directives given by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh regarding protection of the Buriganga, the Turag and the Balu. The government can act accordingly. People sometimes see some drives by the authorities. But the situation is worsening every day.
Preservation of rivers in terms of their width and water is a basic environmental issue. It requires both national and trans-boundary management. It needs large finance, technical know-how and technical people. All works cannot be done within a short span of time. It requires short-term, medium-term and long-term programmes and strategies.
In the short run, the government can adopt some measures. First, necessary amendments can be made to land laws to guarantee the right of the government in protecting river territories. Second, the setting up of correct boundary pillars along the extensive foreshore areas is needed. The base year of offshore areas should be marked as either 1970 or 1980. The government should also take the protection of a High Court judgement of 2009 that clearly defined the foreshores as an integral part of a river.
Third, strong actions are needed against the industries which release industrial wastes into rivers. Fourth, the campaign to evict land grabbers should be vigorously pursued. Fifth, the government should allocate enough funds for the protection of rivers. Some funds from the Climate Change Trustee Fund should be diverted for this purpose. Sixth, the project for restoration of the Buriganga River (Dhaleswari Pungli-Banshi-Turag-Buriganga River System) must be vigorously pursued. This project, adopted in 2010 with an estimated cost of Tk. 94 billion, could spend only Tk. 700 million until June 2014 with no visible physical progress.
All this requires a strong political will for implementation. Riverine Bangladesh must not lose its rivers. A national committee, to be headed by the Prime Minister, should be formed to protect the rivers.
The writer is an economist
and a columnist.
 chowdhuryjafar@ymail.com