The government has finalised the draft of 'River, floodplain, water reservoir, and canal control act 2005' to reclaim and protect the natural water bodies from illegal grabbers.

Under the draft law, the violators would be put into jail for a period of minimum six months where as the maximum punishment is five years imprisonment with a fine up to Tk 3 lakh.

The draft was finalised at an inter-ministerial meeting with Water Resources Minister Hafiz Uddin Ahmad in the chair.

The proposed law prohibits setting up of any permanent establishment within 50 meters of port area and 10 meters of both banks of the river.

It also empowers the authorities concerned to impose restriction on the construction of permanent establishment even by the owners of the land within the marked area in a bid to stop river erosion and protect the towns.

Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Hafiz Uddin said the grabbing of rivers and wetlands was one of the major reasons for prolonged floods in

the country last year.

He said the proposed law will protect the rivers from grabbing and help reclaim all canals in the capital and other cities.

"No body will be allowed to cause inundation by earth filling. The floodplains and the natural flow of the rivers and canals will be protected," he added.

"Risk of flood is increasing due to earth filling of rivers, canals and other wetlands. Slight rains have been causing waterlogging and creating immense sufferings to the people," the minister said.

The draft law will be placed before the cabinet meeting soon, the meeting sources said.

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam, Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Agriculture Minister M K Anwar, Environment and Forest Minister Tariqul Islam, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdullah al Noman and Housing and Public Works Minister Mirza Abbas were present at the meeting.

Sectaries and other representatives of ministries concerned were also present on the occasion.