canals
Dev projects must not damage rivers and canals: PM Hasina asks officials
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (October 16, 2023) asked the officials concerned to make sure that developments projects don’t impede the free flow of water bodies, including rivers and canals.
“We have to ensure the uninterrupted flow of rivers. Keeping that in mind, we have to carry out our projects and development activities,” she said.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating various projects under the ministries of water resources and health.
She joined the programme from her official residence, Ganabhaban, through video link.
She said that in the name of development it is often seen that all water bodies are filled up.
“I think that this is very fulsome. All have to take step to save the water resources whenever any project is taken up or implemented,” she stressed.
Hasina also put importance on preserving water during the monsoon season.
She put emphasis on continuous capital dredging and maintenance dredging whichever is needed for the water bodies.
Read more: Bangladesh is a role model to least development countries: Shahab Uddin
The PM also said that the natural flow of the rivers, canals, beels (lake-like wetland) and other water bodies must not be hindered during implementation of any development project.
She asked the relevant authorities to ensure having at least one water reservoir in every development project.
Mentioning water as the biggest resource for the country, she said that all water bodies must have to be protected.
“The nature will flow by its own course, and we have to take steps to save our resources going with that flow,” she said.
Read more: Development should prioritise environmental protection over environmental damage: Dr Hossain Zillur
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and State Minister for Water Resources Ministry Zaheed Farooque also spoke at the programme.
Re-excavation of canals giving new hope to Cumilla residents
Residents of Chandina upazila and Chouddagram upazila of Cumilla district are dreaming of a new beginning as the re-excavation work of Kazipara canal and Kanail canal is going on in full swing under the supervision of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC).
According to the local farmers and BADC, the authorities concerned will excavate the 3.5 kilometer area of Kazipara canal and 4-km area of Kanail canal.
After the re-excavation work, the crops of 3000 acres of land along the two canals will be protected after removing waterlogging problem during monsoon.
READ: Demarcation of 29 canals started in city
2000 farmers will be benefitted by the re-excavation of the canals as they will irrigate their crops land by the water of the canals during dry season.
During a recent visit at Barera in Chandina upazila along Kazipara canal, this correspondent found that many crops land turned into fallen land due to lack of irrigation.
Demarcation of 29 canals started in city
All illegal establishments will be evicted from the canals in the city following the demarcation of the waterbodies, said LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam on Wednesday.
He said this while addressing the inauguration function of the demarcation process of 29 canals and one regulatory pond under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). The event was arranged in the city’s Kalyanpur Regulatory Pond area.
Read: How the life was sucked out of the Suvadda Canal
The Minister praised Dhaka's two city corporations for starting the process to free canals from illegal occupants and evict illegal structures from the water channels after the Dhaka WASA handed over the responsibility of the canals to them.
He said the government acquired 173 acres of land in Kalyanpur to construct a water regulatory pond in a bid to ease the Dhaka city’s waterlogging.
But the entire land except three acres went under the illegal land grabbers and different structures were constructed on the acquired land, he said.
“The normal water flow will be ensured by removing all establishments inside the land after the demarcation,” said the Minister.
He said many canals including Ramchandrapur have already been freed from the illegal occupations. In collaboration with the administration, the public representatives have evicted various illegal establishments by engaging common people in it, he said.
Read: Atiqul renews his vow: All canals under DNCC to be recovered
Tazul said the public support is required to bring back the heritage of Dhaka by reviving the old canals.
He sought the cooperation from media in garnering public support, said a PID handout.
DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam also spoke on the occasion, while DNCC ward councilors and senior officials were present.
Experts seek master plan for sustainable river dredging
Experts at a webinar on Saturday urged the government to prepare a master plan for ensuring sustainable river and canal dredging and their management in a bid to accelerate further economic advancement of the riverine country.
They also said the number of rivers in Bangladesh is declining due to siltation and fall in streamflow affecting waterways that are the cheapest means of transportation.
Under the circumstances, the experts called upon the government to make an adequate allocation for river dreading and proper river training.
Also read: Capital dredging project: First phase set to miss deadline
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) arranged the webinar titled ‘Sustainable River Dredging: Challenges and Way Forward'.
Water expert and Brac University Professor Emeritus Ainun Nishat presented the keynote paper at the programme while State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury joined it as the chief guest.
Dr Nishat said there are two types of dredging like maintenance dredging and capital dredging. “A master plan should be prepared for river and canal dredging in Bangladesh.”
He said dredging should be done in a sustainable manner so that the economy can be benefited as rivers not only carry water but also carry lives. “For an efficient river management, special emphasis must be put on maintenance dredging.”
Stating that the private sector can play a major role in dredging operation, the water expert said also underscored the importance of investments in dredging and de-siltation works. “Private dredging operators must be trained on sustainability issues. PPP can be a useful model for river dredging, sand extraction, land recovery, land accretion and land reclamation.”
Also read: Kaladumur River dying; immediate dredging needed
Dr Nishat said the current practice of dredging operations, both capital and maintenance, need to be evaluated urgently. “Rules and guidelines for sand dredging from river beds should be updated and followed strictly.”
He suggested establishing a river training institute to create skilled manpower for river management.
Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) Executive Director Abu Saleh Khan said the total river basin system should be analysed in an efficient manner. “Dredgers are now ultramodern and highly efficient but they need proper training for skill development and capacity building.”
He also focused on sustainable dredging and long-term strategic planning in the maritime sector. “For sustainable dredging, dredgers have to have the idea on soil condition, river system, stream nature and ecological system. There should have been a post-dredging evaluation system in the policy.”
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the government has been working sincerely to ensure effective river management as per its delta plan. “We’ve a plan to make 10,000 km inland river ways navigable.”
He said the capacity of Mongla Port has now increased manifolds, easing the pressure on Chittagong port. “We’ve limitations and challenges but we must have to manage our rivers through efficient dredging as these’re our natural assets.”
The junior minister said the government has been working on sustainable river dredging both in the form of capital dredging and maintenance dredging and 35 more dredgers will be procured soon.”
As per the delta plan, he said, the government is firmly committed to developing the riverine system in the country. “We invited the private sector to come forward with more investments, even in the PPP format, to materialize the delta plan.”
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said waterways play a diverse role in the economy of Bangladesh as it is a riverine country.
“It’s a high time to improve the waterways for the sake of both industrial and socioeconomic development of the country as Bangladesh is poised to become a developing country by 2026. The 24,000 km of waterways come down to 6,000 km in monsoon and 3,600 km during the lean period due to dynamic characteristics of the rivers and its effect falls into the economic and ecological state of the country,” he observed.
He said navigable waterways have manifold positive cascading effects on the economy as it saves container movement time and ensures comparatively cheaper goods transportation system. “Navigable and well-managed waterways help ease cross-border trade growth with the neighbouring states. But lack of maintenance, weakening upstream flow and human interventions are some of the common problems for declining navigable waterways.”
Preserving biodiversity: Govt plans to revive small rivers, canals, wetlands
The government has taken a massive plan to recover canals, wetlands and small rivers across the country and re-excavate those to increase their navigability and water reservation capacity, groundwater recharge and thus preserve the biodiversity.