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Make joint move to save Buriganga

PM asks officials of 3 ministries

UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged all concerned to take joint initiatives in saving the Buriganga river from pollution.
The river is in a very bad shape as all kinds of sewage are being dumped into it through the drainage system at 135 points, she said.
To save the river, she underscored the need for taking joint initiatives by the ministries of environment and forests, water resources and shipping.
An effluent treatment plant (ETP) could be set up through establishing a strong, separate drainage system to protect the river, she added.
The premier made the remarks during a meeting with high officials of the environment and forests ministry at the secretariat.
Hasina also suggested stopping the shallow FROM PAGE 20 engine-driven boats from plying the river as they leak diesel and other oils and contaminate its water. "Only manually-driven boats can ply the river.”
Listing her government's various steps to extract wastage from the Buriganga, she said river-dredging projects were taken up to restore navigability in many rivers, including the Balu, Turag, Jamuna and Dhaleshwari.
Such dredging also helped the rivers enhance their water retention capacity during the monsoon, she added.
Hasina also said steps had been taken to set up an ETP at the city's Hatirjheel as well as connecting it with Gulshan and Banani lakes.
She observed that the filling up of canals such as those in Purana Paltan and Segunbagicha had damaged the city's drainage sys-
tem.
The premier stressed the need for protecting the country's environment, keeping in mind issues related to food and security for its 16 crore people.
"Our soil is fertile... we'll have to protect our soil and environment... then all plans should be undertaken to ensure their [people's) food, security and a healthy environment for living," she said.
About the apprehension that a part of the country will be submerged due to a rise in sea level, she said her government had taken steps to dredge the rivers and enhance their water retention capacity.
The country's river routes have remained neglected for long, though they are the cheapest means for transportation of passengers and goods.
To further activate the river routes, Hasina suggested taking joint initiatives by the ministries of environment and forests, water resources and shipping.
She said coastal forests have been created through afforestation on some 1.96 lakh hectares of char lands while some 1,200 square kilometres of coastal land had been added to the main land through coastal afforestation.
Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Monju, Deputy Minister Abdullah Al Islam Jakob and Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Patwari, among others, were present.