ZCZC
BSS-07
WORKSHOP-WATER ACT (with picture)
Speakers for proper execution of Water Act
RAJSHAHI, April 27, 2019 (BSS) – Speakers at a workshop here today stressed the need for proper implementation of the Bangladesh Water Act, 2013 and Bangladesh Water Rules, 2018 for ensuring better use and management water resources.
They also called for district administration’s active role for execution of the laws in this regard saying pressure on underground water should be decreased and need-based measures should be adopted.
Ministry of Water Resources and Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) organized the workshop at Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Room to sensitize the stakeholders on Bangladesh Water Act, 2013 and Bangladesh Water Rules, 2018.
Senior District and Session Judge Meer Shafiqul Alam addressed the workshop as guest of honour while Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources Rokon Ud-Dowla spoke as focal person with Additional Divisional Commissioner Anwar Hossain in the chair.
Director General of WARPO Mahmudul Hassan gave welcome address while Chief Scientific Officer Engineer Rezaul Karim presented the keynote paper giving an overview on the water act and rules.
More than 50 experts and officials representing 26 government and non-government entities involved in water management activities took part in the workshop.
Speakers called for creating awareness to ensure proper management and judicious use of both surface and underground water resources and said there is no scope of indiscriminate use of water particularly in the drought-hit Barind area.
The water law and the rules were framed to ensure better management of water resources, they said.
Eng Rezaul Karim said severe water crisis can hit the Barind area in future if unabated extraction of underground water continues.
Senior District and Session Judge Meer Shafiqul Alam says the district administration can play a vital role to proper implementation of the Bangladesh Water Act, 2013 and Bangladesh Water Rules, 2018 for ensuring better management and use of water resources.
Rokon Ud-dowla said water management should be given highest priority to attain sustainable development goals.
Chief Engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board Muhammad Ali and Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from Department of Geology and Mining in Rajshahi University and Superintending Engineer of Rajshahi WASA Parvez Mahmud and Assistant Project Coordinator of DASCOH Foundation Jahangir Alam Khan also spoke on the occasion.
BSS/AH/AKH/1700hrs