Dredge rivers all year round: JS body
A parliamentary committee has suggested that the Ministry of Shipping continue capital dredging all year round to keep rivers navigable.
The suggestion came from the 57th meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings, held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with the committee chairman ABM Golam Mostafa in the chair.
The meeting also expressed concern at the fast disappearance of rivers and shrinking of waterways.
The meeting was told that since around 30,000km waterways of the country had been reduced to only 3,500km in the last few decades it is necessary to continue dredging activities all year round to check further shrinking of river routes and keep them navigable.
Recommendations were made to take immediate steps to stop dumping and funneling of wastes into the river Buriganga through 138 selected sewage lines and different points.
It suggested the National Board of Revenue (NBR) take necessary steps for auction in six months of goods dumped at different sheds at Chittagong Port in the last five years or take measures for proper management of the same.
The committee also strongly recommended for steps to modernise the ports under BIWTA, launch automation programme and strengthen motivational programme.
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