WE are outraged at the foot-dragging and seemingly attempted derailment of save the river campaign spearheaded by The Daily Star and Channel i in 2009. In that year, a writ petition to save four Dhaka rivers from unbridled grabbing and pollution resulted in an HC order with a very clear set of directives for river demarcation.

The district administrations of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Munshiganj were directed to pitch pillars along the banks of Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya including their foreshores to ward off the invasive forays of grabbers and polluters. Whereas the rivers were required to be demarcated bearing in mind their highest level in monsoon, this is being done in line with the water flow in the lean season. This is in breach of the High Court ruling, according to experts.

The BIWTA started demarcation work in cooperation with and under the charge of district administrations only in April last year. This was done following the directives of the river taskforce. But the way they are drawing the lines would leave scope to existing encroachers for legalising their unlawful intrusions. To make matters worse, this could encourage fresh grabbing of huge acreage of river lands across the country.

We endorse the concerns of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, Green Voice and TIB which demonstrate a keen interest in pursuing the agenda of saving the lifelines of Dhaka. Following Bapa's detailed presentation on the irregularities in setting up the pillars, three review committees headed by deputy commissioners were said to have been constituted. We can quite sense a lack of confidence in such committees as these comprise those responsible for the 'wrong-doings'.

We have two distinct suggestions to proffer: first, recalling that the Prime Minister had initially thrown her weight behind the rallying cry for saving the rivers, may we request her to order a high powered inquiry into the present state of affairs. Secondly, let there be a committee of experts drawn from environmental rights bodies to independently oversee the river demarcation and greenbelting undertaking. The major stakeholders would have to be involved in the exercise.