Govt cancels all riverbank leases

The government yesterday cancelled all leases of the riverbanks given by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on daily basis and decided to stop unauthorised sand trading for checking river pollution and maintaining navigability.
The government also decided to cancel gradually leases on long-term and yearly basis given by the BIWTA except for those having public interest. The leases given only for kitchen markets, landing stations and docks for fuel oil will be allowed to continue.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the high-powered taskforce formed to make recommendations and take implementation measures for ensuring navigability of the country's important rivers held at the shipping ministry with its Minister Shahjahan Khan in the chair.
The BIWTA used to give leases mainly to the sand and brick traders who often fill up and grab riverbanks.
To protect the riverbanks, the government will construct walkways, start afforestation and set up benches on the riverbanks. The shipping and environment ministries have already taken separate projects in this regard.
The meeting said a seven-member committee headed by a joint secretary (admin) of the shipping ministry has been formed. The committee will submit its report to the taskforce by December 15 suggesting short, medium and long-term action plan to recover the illegal grabbing and check pollution of the rivers.
The meeting also asked the deputy commissioners concerned to take necessary steps to demarcate the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Turag and Balu rivers by November 30 as per the order of the High Court, Shipping Secretary Mohammad Abdul Manan Howlader told The Daily Star.
Besides, the ongoing drive to demolish illegal structures on the rivers will continue, the meeting decided.
The meeting also decided that communications, local government and rural development ministries will be requested to destroy the low bridges on the rivers and construct them in a way so that they do not hamper water transport.
“In future, approval of the shipping ministry will be required to construct any bridge over the rivers,” Howlader said.
The government will take stronger measures to save the rivers from industrial wastes. Besides, water buses will be introduced around the capital while fences will be built up on recovered riverbanks.
The land ministry was also requested to finalise the policy on sand lifting and to inform the taskforce.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed, Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen, State Minister for Environment and Forest Hasan Mahmud, lawmakers Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Aslamul Haque, Begum Sanjida Khanom, secretaries, BIWTA Chairman Abdul Malek Mia, Water Development Board Director General Abul Kalam Azad, Paribesh Bachao Andolon Chairman Abu Naser Khan, Dhaka University Geography Professor Dr Nasreen Ahmad and deputy commissioners concerned were present at the meeting.
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