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800 acres grabbed from 6 rivers

Tk 444cr gobbled up du ring 2001-06from water resources ministry, reveals TIB study

Staff Correspondent
Around 800 acres of land in the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Karnaphuli. Dakatia, Betna and Surma rivers was grabbed by 1,200 encroachers violating the Wetland Protection Act, 2000,
I his was revealed by a keynote paper of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) at a roundtable yester-day mentioning the name of a high-powered inter-ministerial committee, which identified it.
Hatirjheel, Gulshan-Banani -Baridhara Lake and adjoining Buriganga river were also came under encroachment committed by a section of dishonest people from both government and non-
government sides, says the keynote paper,
The paper adds investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission is going on into alleged corruption in different projects of the water resources ministry involving around Tk 444 crore between 2001 and 2006.
The roundtable styled "Good Governance in Water Sector: Want Transparency and Accountability" was organised by TIB at the National Press Club.
TIB Trustee Board Chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmad chaired the roundtable, while Executive Director Iftekharuzzainan moderated the programme. Md Rafiqul Islam,
programme officer of 1 IB, presented the keynote paper.
I he paper made some recommendations to ensure safe and quality water for all. The recommendations include implementing the water policy, 1999 fast for proper use of water resources, stopping different kinds of irregularities and corruption, especially neglect of duty, encroachment on property, abuse of power, extortion and influence, and giving punishment to them who are involved in irregularities of encroachment on different water bodies including rivers, canals and lakes.
Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said around 1,000 ponds, which were in the city, have
800 acres
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now totally disappeared. He added they are trying to recover 13 of the city's 52 canals but could not succeed so far.
He underscored the need for long-term planning and said otherwise it is not possible to save water resources of the country.
Prof Muzaffer said different housing companies are launching housing projects on flood flow and sub-flood flow zones which should stop.
Suggesting shifting industries from the city to reduce water pollution, he said although there are industrial estates of BISIC at district and upazila levels many industries have been developed in unplanned way in the city.
Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology Prof Dr M Fazlul Bari said although there are rules and laws to use water resources properly and to save them, there is lack of proper implementation.
Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Abul Kalam Mohammad Azad said j they are working hard to ensure equal distribution of water and its management.
To ensure transparency in the work of WDB a strong taskforce was formed by the water resources ministry, he said.
Former secretary SM Al Husaini said getting water has to be ensured through short-, middle and longterm planning.
Executive Director of TIB Iftekharuzzaman, Dr AQM Mahbub of Dhaka University and Chief Engineer of Dhaka City Corporation Ashfaqul Islam, among others, spoke at the roundtable.