An inter-ministerial committee yesterday decided to demolish illegal structures from 26 canals and rivers in and around the capital for smooth functioning ofthe drainage system.

The committee in its meeting on formulation of policies and regulations on drainage system of Dhaka City also decided to form an expert committee to prepare plans to recover the encroached waterbodies. A cabinet committee will be formed to implement the plan.

The meeting chaired by LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan viewed that the reasons behind waterlogging in the capital are unplanned urbanisation and illegal encroachments of canals and rivers.

The meeting said encroachers with the help of administration have gobbled up about 70 to 75 percent of canals running through the city. Illegal structures have been set up on both sides of four rivers -- Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya.

The meeting emphasised acquiring 100 acres of land near the city to dump waste and setting up more water purifying plants for the city.

Committee members Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas, Forest and Environment Minister Tariqul Islam, Dhaka City Corporation Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Quamrul Islam, State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar, State Minister for Land Abdus Sattar, lawmakers Nasiruddin Pintu, SA Khaleq, Salauddin Ahmed and Secretary for Housing and Public Works and former Rajuk chairman Iqbal Ahmed Chowdhury were present in the meeting at the cabinet division seminar auditorium.

Professor Mujibur Rahman of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) told the meet that planned measures should be taken to prevent future deluge. He emphasised expansion of drainage capacity.

Khoka said the utility service providers are unable serve the increasing city population.

LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan emphasised cooperation among the service providers.