Staff Reporter :
A vested quarter is trying to destabilise the country targeting rivers and the environment. The authority concerned has freed over 90 per cent illegal encroachments on water bodies around the city.
Besides, National River Conservation Commission (NRCC) demanded punishment to the Managing Director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) for polluting the city rivers.
Speakers said this while addressing a discussion meeting on ‘Rights of Rivers’ organized by the NRCC to mark the World River Day at the city’s CIRDAP Auditorium on Sunday.
“A section of unscrupulous people is trying to involve with dirty politics about the country’s river and environment when the shipping sector is trying to turn around and contributing to the country’s economy. Obstacles have been made during development projects despite carried out in accordance with proper rules. Even, many people are inciting communalism with this,” State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said while addressing the event as chief guest.
It needs to be careful that some people have been intruded in the name of environment to slow down the development of Chittagong and Matarbari ports, he claimed.
“We have to face several obstacles during river protection and eviction drives against encroachment. Religious institutions like mosques, temples and educational institutions have been established on the river banks illegally. We have already discussed with various religious leaders and the ministry in this regard,” the State Minister said.
He sought cooperation from all quarters to free the country’s rivers from encroachment.
Taking part in the discussion, the NRCC Chairman Dr Manjur A Chowdhury has said that the WASA Managing Director and Mayor of DNCC should be sent to jail by mobile court for failure to control river pollution around the city.
The NRCC Chairman also urged the concerned departments for taking appropriate action against Taksim A Khan for Dhaka WASA’s alleged failure to ensure proper sewage management.
Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Atiqul Islam had been asked to put nets over entrances to the city canals to prevent garbage from being dumped into rivers, he said adding but the Dhaka North City Corporation has not done that yet.
Dr Manjur A Chowdhury recommended that similar disciplinary action should be taken against Mayor Atiqul Islam.
“We will take WASA MD and DNCC Mayor before a mobile court and recommend six months’ jail and a fine of Tk4 lakh for them,” the NRCC Chairman said.
However, he thanked the Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation for taking the initiative to build a sewage treatment plant to prevent polluted water of the canals from entering rivers.
