BSS :
A project taken by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) involving Taka 945 crore to re-excavate and protect four major canals and its seven branches from illegal encroachment awaits government approval.
“We have taken a project of about Taka 945 crore to re-excavate, preserve and protect Shyampur, Jirani, Manda and Kalunagar canals and its seven branches from illegal encroachment,” DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh told BSS in an interview at his Nagar Bhaban office.
A proposal of the project titled “Canal Restoration, Renovation and Aesthetic Environment Creation Project” is now awaiting approval of the planning commission, he said.
Barrister Taposh said necessary measures will be taken to keep water flow normal in the canals and its branches under the jurisdiction of the DSCC round the year. The canals will be given a facelift with building necessary infrastructure including parks and roads nearby, keeping in mind the natural beauty and environment, he continued.
The mayor said the DSCC will continue mobile courts all over the year to evict the illegal occupiers.
DSCC has taken charges of the canals, box-culverts and drains after 34 years from WASA on December 31 last, Taposh said, adding that they have started drives against the illegal occupants alongside removing waste from those since January 2 this year.
The WASA also handed over the pumps to the DSCC although those were found dysfunctional, he said, adding that, “But we have made the pumps functional within a short time”.
From January 11 last to March 23, some 730 decimals or 7.30 acre of lands have been set free from illegal occupation adjacent to the canals of Jirani, Manda and Shyampur by conducting several drives.
A total of 155 cases were filed and Tk 4,91,900 was realized as fine while a portion of 145 permanent and 220 temporary establishments were demolished during the drives.
After recovering the illegally occupied places, as many as 2727 boundary pillars have so far been set up.
