Wasa to hand over charge to city corps by January: minister

The government will hand over Dhaka city's drainage system from Wasa to the city corporations by January next year, Local Government and Rural Development Minister Tajul Islam said yesterday.

"We will try to make it happen within the rest days [of December]… Even it is shifted to January, it may not linger to the end of January," he told reporters after inaugurating a joint hand-wash campaign of Wasa and WaterAid at the city's Karwan Bazar.

The minister's remarks came after the government decided in principle to hand over the drainage system from Wasa to the city corporations, to solve the city's longstanding waterlogging problem.

Responding to a query, the minister told journalists they have formed a committee for the handing over of the drainage system, and have asked it to submit a report within a month.

"I hope, the committee will soon submit its report," he said, adding once the report is submitted, the ministry after completion of some official procedures will hand over the drainage system upon getting the prime minister's approval.

Tajul Islam said he has been following-up on the committee's activities, adding that the handover will be completed within days of submission of the committee report.

The idea of handing over ]drainage management to city corporations came to light in July when the two mayors -- Dhaka South's Shekih Fazle Noor Taposh and Dhaka North's Atiqul Islam -- said they wished to take over the job.

Later, the decision was taken at a meeting headed by the LGRD minister, in presence of two Dhaka city corporation mayors and Wasa's managing director.

Responding to another query on the government effort to free rivers and canals surrounding Dhaka city from illegal grabbers, the LGRD minister said whoever get involved in unlawful activities, will face action against them.