Staff Reporter :Speakers at a human chain programme have stressed the need for a sustainable water management policy and implementation of ‘Water Act 2013’ to protect the rivers from encroachment.They also demanded exemplary punishment for those who are involved in river grabbing, water pollution and other anti-environmental activities on Sunday. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and Bangladesh Water Integrity Network (BWIN) jointly organized the programme to mark the World Water Day at TSC of Dhaka University. Like elsewhere in the world, the World Water Day was also observed in Bangladesh with a view to raising people’s awareness for drinkable water and sustainable water management. The main theme of the day of this year was ‘Water and Sustainable Development’.Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the government should implement the existing laws relating to water sector including Bangladesh Water Act 2013 for ensuring the supply of safe water. Some unscrupulous people are involved in river encroachment and pollution, but they are going unpunished due to the lack of proper implementation of law and the indifferent attitude of authorities concerned, he said. “We have to identify the weakness of the organizations relating to water sector. We also have to identify and punish the people who are involvement in anti-environmental activities,” he said. “The effluents of many factories are being released directly to the rivers, channels and other water bodies due to the lack of proper waste management policy. We demand setting up Effluents Treatment Plants (ETP) in all factories and industries to stop the indiscriminate pollution,” he said. Some influential people are grabbing the rivers and constructing structures in the river areas, he said, the government needs to take punitive measures against them to ensure free flowing of river waters, otherwise, the nation will face severe water crisis in future. Professor Dr Shahid Akhter Hossain, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Admin) of Dhaka University, attended the programme as the chief guest. Water is a very important element for our life and livelihood but we are misusing it, he said. “We have to be careful of the proper use of water and the government should take appropriate measure against the misuse of water,” he said.
