Mega plan to save Halda in pipeline
The government will take a huge plan to address the issues posing existential threat to the river Halda, one of the world's major natural breeding spots for sweet water fish.
The plan, however, would equally prioritise both fishing and agricultural activities depending on the river.
The decision was taken yesterday at the first meeting of a high-powered inter-ministerial committee formed to protect the Halda.
Chaired by Md Shamsul Kibria, joint secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry and convener of the team, the meeting was held at Chittagong Circuit House.
The committee yesterday decided to take some immediate steps previous to the plan.
These include restricting engine boats during spawning season from April to May, preventing disposal of industrial waste from Asian paper Mill at Nandirhat and state-owned Karnaphukli Paper Mill at Kaptai into the river, and steps against brickfields located on the riverbank.
Following the meeting, Local Awami League (AL) lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim, an adviser to the committee and the chief guest, briefed journalists about the plan.
He said, "Dredging is necessary in the river Halda from Satterghat point to upstream Fatikchhari, as its depth has drastically lowered even by one and a half feet at many places of the area due to siltation."
Two roads, each 85-kilometre long, would be constructed on both sides of the river and trees will be planted so that the movement of engine boats is reduced, he said, adding the 13 sluice gates would be re-modeled to create enough spaces for easy passing of fishes.
The meeting sources said a technical committee would be formed with representatives from five ministries and other government organisations to conduct a primary survey on the river.
These are the ministries of fisheries and livestock, agriculture, water resources, LGRD, and forests and the Department of Fisheries, the Institute of Water Modeling (IWM), and Bangladesh Fish Research Institute (BFRI).
The inter-ministerial committee members, following the meeting, and local representatives made a journey on the river on an engine boat to glimpse its present state. Two other engine boats carrying law enforcers accompanied the team.
Chief Engineer of Water Development Board (WDB), Chittagong Syed Ahsan Ali and Additional District Commissioner (general) Ehsane Ali were also present at the meeting.
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