Massive irregularities in canal excavation
Water minister tells JS
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen yesterday in parliament alleged that massive irregularities took place in food for work programme to excavate small rivers and canals in different parts of the country.
“In the last fiscal, 80,000 tonnes of rice were allocated under food for work programme. I don't know how much work was actually done. But irregularities took place in most of the cases, resulting in low quality of work,” the minister told the House at questions.
He said the rice was allocated to union parishad chairmen to carry out the food for work program. “I don't know how they distributed the allocated rice,” Ramesh said.
The minister said his ministry would not go further for such excavations under food for work programme due to irregularities.
He told lawmakers that the government is collecting excavators to be sent to different parts of the country to dredge small rivers and canals on the basis of their recommendations.
Ruling Awami League lawmaker KM Khalid, when questioning the minister, said the minister's reply was not acceptable.
“You are the minister of the ministry. If you say that you don't know about the progress of the work, then it is not acceptable,” Khalid said.
The minister however did not comment on Khalid's remarks.
Meanwhile, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas said the government has moved to prepare a list of fishermen to provide them with identity cards.
He said the fishermen would be given different incentives including Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) cards when fishing is banned in rivers during fish breeding season.
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