Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
River grabbing by some influential persons are going unabated in Khulna city as well as nine upazila areas of the district.
No proper action has been taken against the illegal river encroachers still, local people alleged.
Recently Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said at a meeting held in Sylhet that those who are grabbing rivers, they are similar as like as “Rajakars” (Collaborators who had betrayed during the Liberation War in 1971.)
Influential people have occupied 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 a few days, experts think.
Rafiqul, Rasel, Arafat, Shahidul, Mizan, Tonmoy and Atnu, traders of Khulna Barobazar and Daulatpur bazar told this correspondent that some dishonest traders have been conducting their brick and sand business occupying the rivers at Khulna Jailkhana ghat, Delta ghat, Digholia, Daulatpur Govt. B.L college ghat, Shiromoni and Phultala ghat areas.
Experts think that eviction of illegal river grabbers is urgent with a view to protect the city protect the city protection embankment.
The Superintendent 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).
” The project included 28/2 No. poldar, 3.5 km alternative embankment,Govt. B.L college ghat, Jailkhana ghat, Rujvelt Jety ghat, Sadar hospital ghat and Ansar flour mill,”Mujibar Rahman added.
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 grabbers.
Due to river grabbing, Khulna City Protection Dyke faces serious threat which may collapse at any moment for the pressure of the illegal river encroachers. This is why the concerned authorities of the Government should take necessary steps for the eviction of the illegal river grabbers for saving Khulna City Protection Embankment and the inhabitants of Khulna, experts think.
River grabbing by some influential persons are going unabated in Khulna city as well as nine upazila areas of the district.
No proper action has been taken against the illegal river encroachers still, local people alleged.
Recently Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said at a meeting held in Sylhet that those who are grabbing rivers, they are similar as like as “Rajakars” (Collaborators who had betrayed during the Liberation War in 1971.)
Influential people have occupied 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 a few days, experts think.
Rafiqul, Rasel, Arafat, Shahidul, Mizan, Tonmoy and Atnu, traders of Khulna Barobazar and Daulatpur bazar told this correspondent that some dishonest traders have been conducting their brick and sand business occupying the rivers at Khulna Jailkhana ghat, Delta ghat, Digholia, Daulatpur Govt. B.L college ghat, Shiromoni and Phultala ghat areas.
Experts think that eviction of illegal river grabbers is urgent with a view to protect the city protect the city protection embankment.
The Superintendent 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).
” The project included 28/2 No. poldar, 3.5 km alternative embankment,Govt. B.L college ghat, Jailkhana ghat, Rujvelt Jety ghat, Sadar hospital ghat and Ansar flour mill,”Mujibar Rahman added.
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 grabbers.
Due to river grabbing, Khulna City Protection Dyke faces serious threat which may collapse at any moment for the pressure of the illegal river encroachers. This is why the concerned authorities of the Government should take necessary steps for the eviction of the illegal river grabbers for saving Khulna City Protection Embankment and the inhabitants of Khulna, experts think.
