ZCZC
BSS-24
RIVERS-PROTECTION-SHAJAHAN
Govt working to protect rivers from land grabbing: Shajahan
DHAKA, Sept 30, 2018 (BSS) – Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan today said
the government is working to protect rivers from land grabbing and illegal
practices.
“We have taken various initiatives including setting pillars and
recovering land to ensure normal flow of rivers,” he told a seminar on
“Enforcement of law for protecting rivers and Development reality” at the
National Museum here, an official release said.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Senior Secretary of the Land
Ministry Md Abdul Jalil, Shipping Secretary Md Abdus Samad, Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Secretary Abdullah Al Mohsin Chowdhury and Chairman
of Parobesh Bachau Andolon Abu Naser Khan, among others, addressed the
seminar with Chairman of the National River Protection Commission Dr Mujibur
Rahman in the chair.
Shajahan said the government will set up 10,400 more pillars along river
banks to demarcate its boundaries as part of its initiatives for checking
land grabbing. A total of 9,577 boundary pillars have already been set up
through demarcating the rivers, he added.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) recovered 501.26 acres
of land through demolishing illegal infrastructures. Of the recovered land,
307.26 acres of land were recovered around the Dhaka city and 194 acres of
land in Narayanganj area.
Other speakers said a total of 26 out of 46 canals have been recovered in
and around the Dhaka city. Of the recovered canals, maintenance works are
underway in 13 canals, they said the government is taking necessary
initiatives to protect illegal occupation of canals.
BSS/PR/MMR/ARS/1749 hrs