The committee which was formed by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to prepare a Master Plan for saving the river Karnaphuli is working for preparing a plan in this regard now. As Prime Minister Sheikh Hsina has directed to save the river Karnaphuli, the lifeline of country’s economy, the committee is working to save the river.
Sources said, the office of Prime Minister has taken step to save river Karnaphuli, the lifeline of country’s economy recently. The PMO has formed a high-power committee headed by the Housing and Settlement Minister Engineer Mosharaf Hossain MP to prepare a Master Plan to save the river on December 15 last.
The committee will prepare a Master Plan to save the river Karnaphuli within next three months and the government will take action as per submitted plan, sources said.
According to the sources, the rest members of the committee headed by the Shipping Minister Shahajan Khan MP are: Chief of Bangladesh Navy, Mayors of Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporation, Chief Secretary of the office of Prime Minster, secretaries of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, Home Ministry, Environment and Forest Ministry, Shipping Ministry and Divisional Commissioners of Dhaka and Chittagong.
The Director General of the office of Prime Minster was made Member Secretary of the committee. The committee will also include the river experts from home and abroad to prepare the Master Plan.
According to the sources in district administration, 2,181 illegal occupiers set up their illegal establishments on 158.45 acres of lands of both sides of river Karnaphuli.
There are 2,112 occupiers in Bakolia and East Patenga areas as per BD survey record while there are also 60 illegal occupiers in Gosaildenga, Monohorkhali and Feringi Bazar Mouja areas.
The price of the grabbed land of 158.45 acres at the both sides of river Katnaphuli is more than taka 2,370 crore.
Sources said, the High Court directed to evict the 2,181 illegal establishments from the bank of river Karnaphuli. The concerned bench in an order on October 16 last directed to evict the 2,181 illegal establishments. But, the illegal establishments are yet to be evicted by the concerned authority.
Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Shamsul Arefin said, “We have plans to evict all illegal establishments from the both banks of river Karnaphuli. We need huge budget and planning in this regard.
We will conduct eviction drives against the 2,181 illegal occupiers who grabbed the lands after discussion with other concerned authorities.”
Sources also said, on August 16 last, the HC bench also directed to issue notice to the concerned persons including 2,181 illegal occupiers by giving 90 days time from the receiving the direction of the court.
Bench of high court directed to secretary of Chittagong Development Authority, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Chittagong to publish notice in newspapers and issued notice to the concerned persons to shift the illegal establishments.
If the concerned persons fail to shift their establishments within the notice period, the government authorities have to evict those from the river banks, court sources said.
