Staff Reporter :
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Annisul Huq has said 60 to 70 per cent city garbage will be managed by January next.
He made this assertion at a ‘Meet the Reporters’ at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity Sagar-Runi auditorium in the city on Saturday.
The mayor said the corporation cleaners get no place to dump the garbage. ‘I have spotted 70 places, including 14 of DNCC.’
Annisul Huq said construction of a waste management station on a place of 5-katha land is underway to process the city waste.
Besides, 60 to 72 waste management stations will be set up in city’s several wards,’ the mayor said, adding “from 60 to 70 per cent of city garbage will not be seen lying disorganized by January next.”
He said, “There is garbage all around this city. This city has a huge population and the waste has to be dumped somewhere. No transfer stations have been made.
The mayor observed that a coordinated management is necessary to resolve the problems of Dhaka city. “To solve the problems that cause people’s sufferings, we need a body like city state,” he opined.
Annisul Huq said he will resort to strong arm tactics to free roads occupied by trucks and sought citizens’ support for it.
“They (truck owners) are behaving like bullies by occupying streets with trucks. Should I now bully them?
He came down hard on billboard businesses over their street demonstrations protesting removing of illegal advertising boards in the city.
“I have spoken to the leaders of the Billboard Association. They sent me an official letter, which said they will remove around the 1,000 illegal billboards.
“I told them I am a businessman also and I do not want to ruin you. We have given them three months to remove those, but they did not even remove 50 billboards.”
Annisul Huq, who had preached for a ‘Smart Dhaka’ during his campaign, said that they have initiated a new project to tackle waste management.
Regarding waterlogging and canal related problems, the mayor said, “The Deputy Commissioner is the owner of the canals and WASA holds the responsibility of recovering and developing the canals. Legally, the city corporation has nothing to do in this regard.”
About traffic congestion, he said, “Dhaka city has the capability to accommodate around two to three lakh vehicles. But around 11 lakh vehicles ply on the city streets with approval from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).”
DRU President Shakhawat Hossain Badsha and Secretary Elias Hossain were, among others, present at the programme.
