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Saving Polluted, Encroached Rivers

Tall talks, little success

Pinaki Roy
The government has spent at least Tk 100 crore to save Dhaka's rivers from pollution and encroachment in the last 30 months, but the initiative appears to have seen little success.
The move was frustrated by the lack of coordination among government agencies and an unholy alliance between government officials, politicians, businessmen and encroachers, say experts.
After taking office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made pledges to put an end to encroachment and pollution in the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Turag and Balu rivers amid growing demand for saving the
rivers.
According to a decision of inter-ministerial River Saving Taskforce in 2009, steps were taken to stop discharge of industrial and household wastes into rivers, earth filling and encroachment.
Besides, the High Court gave a set of directives the same year asking the government to demarcate riverbanks, demolish illegal structures, and stop river pollution and earth filling.
Despite all these efforts to save the rivers, thousands of tonnes of sludge has been discharged into the Buriganga and land grabbers put up signboards claiming lands on riverbanks.
In some cases, the condition of rivers got worse than before, much to the frustration of green campaigners and the people, say experts.
“We relied and pinned our hopes on the government's pledges. But ultimately, most of its efforts failed and people are now frustrated," said architect Iqbal Habib, vice president of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon.
Now it would be very difficult to get people's support for the cause. It wouldn't be possible to save the rivers, if the government doesn't show the political will to do that, he said.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) spent Tk 21 crore to remove solid waste from riverbeds of the Buriganga and the Turag. Even after the project's implementation, the water of Buriganga and Turag still remains pitch-dark and gives a putrid smell, as industries continue to pollute them.
“None of the ministers or government officials gave a second thought to this project,” said an environmentalist, wishing anonymity.
It was a complete waste of
money, said the environmentalist.
Over the years, influential people and even government organisations, including Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), encroached on rivers.
Rajuk filled up portions of the Balu river in May last year to construct a bridge to link Purbachal housing with the capital.
Although it is mandatory to take permission from the authorities to do so, Rajuk didn't even bother to seek permission to fill up part of the river.
If any influential politician is involved in land grabbing or river encroachment, the BIWTA fails to take any action against the person.
Despite the government's pledges to save rivers, a ruling party lawmaker filled up a portion of the Buriganga river at Basila point. But the BIWTA could not take any action against him.
"The situation will not improve if we cannot enforce the law unhindered,” said a high-up at the Department of Environment, asking not to be named.
Now, the government has embarked on a Tk 944 crore project to connect Dhaka's rivers with the Jamuna to bring in fresh water to the
Buriganga.
The Water Development Board will implement the project. In the first phase, 23 kilometres of riverbeds will be dredged forTk 75 crore.
The government awarded the dredging work to a newly-formed company of a business group notorious for filling up rivers and wetland as well as land grabbing.