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Unabated encroachment on Keraniganj canals

Helemul Alam
In Keraniganj near Dhaka, most of the canals which once had link with Buriganga and Dhaleshwari rivers were filled up either totally or partially due to continuous encroachment and dumping of solid wastes.
The canals were filled up as die garment factories along the canals had been dumping their wastes there for long.
Besides, local residents were also dumping their solid wastes into the canals which are connected with their sewer lines polluting the water.
According to Water Development Board (WDB) there were over six canals in Keraniganj namely Shuvadya canal, Mirerbagh canal, • Hazaribagh canal, Pangaon canal, Karim Khali Khal (canal) and Manurbagh Khal.
Local people said these canals had many branches most of which have been filled up totally or partially.
Mirerbagh canal at Shuvadya union had a link between Buriganga and Dhaleshwari. It was filled up completely and a road was constructed on the canal around five years back.
People from other areas including Gandaria and Postagola could go to Dhaleshwari from Buriganga through Mirerbagh canal even before 15 years back, said Suman, a resident of the area.
The encroachers have also filled up different parts of Hazaribagh canal under Kunda union and Karim Khali canal under Kalindi union. These canals were originated from Buriganga, said the ** locals.
’ A container terminal was being constructed by the BIWTA after filling a large portion of Pangaon canal at Kunda union, ft had a link to Buriganga.
Shuvadya canal, lifeline of Keraniganj, was dried up completely five years ago. but it was recovered through excavation last year.
But the canal is being filled
up again as dumping of solid waste and jhuts of garments has been going on continuously.
Shuvadya canal had a small flow of water in 2004 but it was completely dried up after it was filled up with earth at Kaliganj the same year to construct a bridge.
Around 5.000 small garment factories at Shuvadya. union are also responsible for drying up the canal at that time as these factories had been dumping their waste materials in the canal over the years.
The WDB with the assistance of the army and the
district administration conducted a drive against the illegal encroachers and excavated the canal which was opened to public for communication on June 16,2008.
"We excavated around six kilometres from Kaliganj to Rajendrapur as the rest of the canal from Rajendrapur to Dhalewari (locally called Panama Khal) was tn good condition." said an official of WDB.
However, during the dry' season boats cannot ply through the canal due to very low level of water and its drying up at different points, said the official.
As the bed of Shuvadya canal is up from the riverbed of Buriganga during the dry season, it was needed to excavate one metre more but it could not be done as in that case a large number of buildings and structures would have been demolished, he said.
Shuvadya canal is now seven metre deep and,22 to 3° metre wide. >
But the canal bed has already beeri filled up by one foot due to continuous dumping of waste, said Md Abdul Matin, sub-divisional engi-neerofWDB.
If the dumping does not
stop, the canal will lose its navigability again within two years, he added.
Char Mirerbagh canal, which has a link to Shuvadya canal, was excavated at a cost ofTk 19 lakh in March 2009.
An official of LGED said 1.50 km area of the canal which has a link to Buriganga near Charbhairab was excavated, headded.
Most of the Monurbagh canal at Kunda union has also been filled up by encroachers over the years, said an official ofWDB.
Another canal having a link to Suvadda canal was extended from Charkutub of
Shajahan Sheth house to Dhaleshwari river via Chunkutia, said Kamrul Hasan, a resident of Kadamtali under Aganagar union.
The canal from its mouth to Nazirabagh Bridge has been filled up and there is no water in it now, he said.
Yet another canal, which also had a link to Shuvadya canal at Golam Bazar via Charain to Kamalganj was filled up at different places, said Md Jahangir, a resident of Masjid para.
Once it was possible to go to Nababganj and Bikrampur through this canal by boat, he added.