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Recovery of Streams in Sylhet

City fathers sit on Tk ler fund as environmental disaster looms

Iqbal Siddiquee, Sylhet
The Sylhet city Corporation (SCC) could not make any progress in recovering the grabbed natural streams in the city though six months have already passed after allocation of Tk one crore by the LGRD ministry for the purpose.
As monsoon approaches, the city dwellers brace for sufferings from severe water-logging as most of the outlets are clogged by encroachers.
SCC Chief Executive Officer Kazi Abdul Nur however told The Daily Star yesterday that they have started clearing the streams and drains. But this will help a little to drain out rain water
He also admitted that the waterlogging problem will not be resolved until illegal structures on streams are removed
The SCC floated tenders twice inviting bids from contractors for demolition of illegal structures on the 12 streams and canals.
Three days back, contractors were engaged for demolishing illegal structures along five of the canals but there was no response for the rest seven. Contractors said the fund was too small for the work, according to Abdur Nur.
Tenders will be floated for the third time soon for the rest seven streams, SCC officials said.
Dakshin Surma Development Forum, a citizens' body, on Saturday held a rally and formed a human chain for clearing the streams to save the city from an 'environmental disaster'.
With only an hour's rainfall, Shahjalal Uposhahar, Bhatalia, Dargah mohalla. Hawapara, Bilpar, Kuarpar, Rainagar Shibganj, Barutkhana, Bharthokhola, Kodomtali, Shaoplabag, Baluchar,
Majumderpaera, Hosnabad and Khashdobir areas of the city are inundated as water can not be drained out.
After repeated maneuvering, LGRD ministry allotted Tk one crore in January this year for recovering Gaviar Khal, the major stream in the city.
The work was started but suspended after a week without any progress. In March, the ministry asked SCC to recover the 12 streams
with the same fund.
The amount includes Tk 60 lakh for recovery of canals and Tk 40 lakh for renovation.
The 12 streams include Goali Chhara, Malni Chhara, Gaviar Khal, Ratna Khal, Basu Kkhal, Mugnichhara, Bhuri Chhara, Haldi Chhara, Mungli Chhara, Dhubri Chhara, Tarapur Bagan Chhara, Barutkhana Chhara, Keya Chhara and Baitha chhara.
There are allegations that some
ward commissioners are also involved in the grabbing.
The department of Environment Engineering of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in a report last year said Sylhet city is in a great threat of environmental disaster due to housing projects on low lands in and around the city and on the outskirts by indiscriminate earth filing over the past few years.