Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
River encroaching by the influentials in Khulna is going on unabated. Authorities concerned are reluctant to evict the illegal structures beside the two rivers, which have been encroached by some influential people of Khulna city and district.
Influential people have occupied for a long time the Bhairab and Rupsha , two main rivers of Khulna, making threat to the city protection embankment.
Some influential men have built several establishments including concrete structures, occupying both the rivers from Rupsha bridge to Shiromoni area. They have built business centers, factories and Jute go downs beside the rivers. Hanging latrines of these factories and business centers have been posing threat to the rivers , as the garbage are mixed with the river water. As a result water of the two rivers would be unusable within few days, according to the experts.
Rasel, Abdul Khalek, Uttam Sarkar and Debobroto Das, traders of Khulna Barobazar and Daulatpur bazar told this correspondent that some dishonest traders have been conducting their brick and sand business by encroaching the rivers at Khulna General hospital ghat, Jailkhana ghat, Delta ghat, Daulatpur ghat, Digholia, Shiromoni, Mirerdanga (Phulbarigate)and Phultala ghat areas.
Experts think that eviction of illegal river encroachers is urgent with a view to protect the city protect the city protection embankment.
On condition of anonymity, an Engineer of Water Development Board(WDB) said, in 1993-94 fiscal building of Khulna city protection embankment started under Secondary town integrated flood protection project with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank(ADB).
Sources of WDB said, due to illegal occupation of the rivers by some traders and factory owners, city protection embankment is not now in right position, as such steps should be taken as soon as possible against the grabbers.
On condition of anonymity a city dweller said, due to unknown and mysterious reason, Khulna City corporation, WDB, Khulna district administration and police administration(both KMP and Khulna district police authorities) have been playing a role of silent spectators since long regarding the eviction of the illegal river encroachers.
River encroaching by the influentials in Khulna is going on unabated. Authorities concerned are reluctant to evict the illegal structures beside the two rivers, which have been encroached by some influential people of Khulna city and district.
Influential people have occupied for a long time the Bhairab and Rupsha , two main rivers of Khulna, making threat to the city protection embankment.
Some influential men have built several establishments including concrete structures, occupying both the rivers from Rupsha bridge to Shiromoni area. They have built business centers, factories and Jute go downs beside the rivers. Hanging latrines of these factories and business centers have been posing threat to the rivers , as the garbage are mixed with the river water. As a result water of the two rivers would be unusable within few days, according to the experts.
Rasel, Abdul Khalek, Uttam Sarkar and Debobroto Das, traders of Khulna Barobazar and Daulatpur bazar told this correspondent that some dishonest traders have been conducting their brick and sand business by encroaching the rivers at Khulna General hospital ghat, Jailkhana ghat, Delta ghat, Daulatpur ghat, Digholia, Shiromoni, Mirerdanga (Phulbarigate)and Phultala ghat areas.
Experts think that eviction of illegal river encroachers is urgent with a view to protect the city protect the city protection embankment.
On condition of anonymity, an Engineer of Water Development Board(WDB) said, in 1993-94 fiscal building of Khulna city protection embankment started under Secondary town integrated flood protection project with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank(ADB).
Sources of WDB said, due to illegal occupation of the rivers by some traders and factory owners, city protection embankment is not now in right position, as such steps should be taken as soon as possible against the grabbers.
On condition of anonymity a city dweller said, due to unknown and mysterious reason, Khulna City corporation, WDB, Khulna district administration and police administration(both KMP and Khulna district police authorities) have been playing a role of silent spectators since long regarding the eviction of the illegal river encroachers.
