Start Padma, Jamuna dredging :PM
Friday, 5 February 2010
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Thursday directed the authorities concerned to start dredging work soon in the Padma and the Jamuna rivers on the basis of the studies that had already been carried out, reports BSS.
The direction came at the 3rd meeting on Water Sector and Dredging at the Prime Minister's Office with the Prime Minister in the chair.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen that the meeting held a threadbare discussion on the latest situation of navigability of the rivers, river channels, requirements of dredging, work plans of dredging in 2009-'10 as well as the conditions of water reserves of the country.
The Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction over continued dumping of garbage into the Buriganga and the Turag rivers in the capital while such substance were being retrieved.
Hasina said allowing dumping of garbage into the two rivers would be merely misuse of government fund when the authority was cleaning the rivers to bring back their navigability and make them usable.
She called upon all including the city dwellers and owners of the industries to come forward along with the authorities concerned to stop such stuffs flowing into the rivers, polluting their waters.
Hasina advised all to take firm stance against corruption and underscored the need for changing mentality of corruption to save the people and the country.
Mentioning the establishment of housings on reclaimed lands by her previous 1996-2001 government, the Prime Minister said new housing, industrial zones and agricultural farms would also be set up along the banks of the rivers after dredging.
In this context, Hasina mentioned setting up of Mongla EPZ with the silt of the Poshur River after its dredging during her last tenure.
The Prime Minister further emphasised massive afforestation and tree plantation in 'char' areas for conserving environment and building up ecologically balanced habitable lands and usable rivers.
The direction came at the 3rd meeting on Water Sector and Dredging at the Prime Minister's Office with the Prime Minister in the chair.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told newsmen that the meeting held a threadbare discussion on the latest situation of navigability of the rivers, river channels, requirements of dredging, work plans of dredging in 2009-'10 as well as the conditions of water reserves of the country.
The Prime Minister expressed dissatisfaction over continued dumping of garbage into the Buriganga and the Turag rivers in the capital while such substance were being retrieved.
Hasina said allowing dumping of garbage into the two rivers would be merely misuse of government fund when the authority was cleaning the rivers to bring back their navigability and make them usable.
She called upon all including the city dwellers and owners of the industries to come forward along with the authorities concerned to stop such stuffs flowing into the rivers, polluting their waters.
Hasina advised all to take firm stance against corruption and underscored the need for changing mentality of corruption to save the people and the country.
Mentioning the establishment of housings on reclaimed lands by her previous 1996-2001 government, the Prime Minister said new housing, industrial zones and agricultural farms would also be set up along the banks of the rivers after dredging.
In this context, Hasina mentioned setting up of Mongla EPZ with the silt of the Poshur River after its dredging during her last tenure.
The Prime Minister further emphasised massive afforestation and tree plantation in 'char' areas for conserving environment and building up ecologically balanced habitable lands and usable rivers.