& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Corruption prevalent at every level: Minister

LGED to build flood control embankments

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The government will take initiative to build flood control embankments, bridges and culverts involving the local government engineering department (LGED) rather than floating tenders as corruption is prevalent at every level, said Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday.
He also said the government could not implement various projects to control floods, such as river dredging, due to lack of funds.
"We do not have enough funds to implement massive flood protection projects. Moreover, corruption and lack of unity among political parties hamper the development process," the minister said at a seminar on 'Flood management: Improvement of drainage and environment'.
The Media Network for Sustainable Development organised the seminar, with Dr Kholiquzzaman, chairman of Bangladesh Unnyan Parishad, in the chair.
Speaking at the seminar, experts recommended dredging the rivers, improving the drainage system and preserving water bodies.
They also called for basin-wise water management and exchange of information with neighbouring countries to reduce the extent of loss in floods.
Prof Hamidur Rahman, in his keynote paper, said that filling up of low lands, encroachment on rivers and other interventions would worsen the flood situation in near future.
Hasanul Haq Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, blamed the successive governments for their failure to control floods effectively.
Political will is needed to protect the country from such natural calamities, he added.
Tauhidul Anawar Khan, member of Joint River Commission, said, "If we receive flood-related information in
advance, we can take precautions."
But the neighbouring country does not provide such information, he said.
"All the countries in South Asia but one agreed to exchange meteorological information," he added.
Gias Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, additional director general of Water Development Board, and Md Azharul Haq, former managing director of Wasa, also spoke.