FROM PAGE 5

Following the local government ministry’s instructions, DSCC is now preparing revised designs and drawings.

“We have a working plan in place and expect to complete revisions by February. Field-level work will begin soon after,” said Safiullah.

The previous plan had two components -- cleaning and recovering the canals, and adding amenities like cycle lanes, bridges, and open spaces.

The revised plan limits the scope of adding the amenities.

“We will incorporate civic facilities where possible but will primarily focus on retaining walls, walkways, and waste removal,” Safiullah noted.

Separate drainage lines will also be installed to treat sewage before discharge, he added.

EXPERTS EXPRESS SKEPTICISM

Contacted, Adil Mohammed Khan, president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, said implementation often diverges from initial plans, necessitating alternative measures.

“We need to understand whether this shift is based on ground realities or aimed at protecting encroachers. Since authorities are deviating from their earlier stance, they must provide a clear explanation,” he said.

“The initial decision was made based on specific considerations, so any change requires justified reasoning,” he added.

Khan also recommended involving third-party experts for an objective assessment before making such changes.

Architect Fazle Reza Sumon, former BIP president, said, “Many areas are already heavily encroached upon as per the CS records. If authorities apply different laws in different places, no law will be enforced properly.”

“I believe this approach will create major difficulties during execution,” he added.

CURRENT SITUATION OF THE CANALS

A recent visit to the project sites highlighted the deteriorating condition of these canals.

At Manda canal, the bed near Sukhnagar Bridge showed signs of neglect.

Local Abul Hossain said DSCC started cleaning last year but left it incomplete after some equipment was stolen.

Sheikh Enam of Mugda recalled how the canal once connected to the Balu river and was navigable by boats.

Jirani canal, once a vital waterway, is now clogged with waste. At its confluence in Begum Bibi Road, Modinabagh, solid waste filled the canal.

“No cleaning has been done in eight years,” said resident Mohammad Siyam Hossain Bhuiyan.

Shyampur-Kadamtali canal has suffered from road construction and encroachment. In the 1990s, a kilometre near Shyampur Bazar was piped and filled.

Kalunagar canal, part of Hazaribagh canal, is now filled with garbage. Resident Md Liton recalled its vibrancy two decades ago before it was converted into drainage pipes during road construction.