Editorial
Unabated river encroachment
Fully implement HC verdict
Three years have passed since a landmark ruling was handed down by the High Court (HC) where it directed the government to demarcate boundaries of major rivers like Buriganga, Balu, Turag and Sitalakkhya and stop illegal encroachment. But what we see happening today is that not only have those directives been flouted but government agencies are actively engaged in conducting new surveys that go fundamentally against the 2009 HC ruling. Indeed, as one environment protection organisation has put it bluntly, it is the government that is legalising encroachment of the river Buriganga.
In the event that allegations are proven true, then we have a serious situation in our hands where some unscrupulous government functionaries are working hand-in-glove with land grabbers to further strangulate Buriganga river, which is already a mere shadow of its formal self, thanks primarily to steady encroachment over the years. The setting up of demarcation pillars repeatedly along the Buriganga River appears to help further the cause of would-be encroachers and narrows down the river. This is a practice that is being conducted not just on the Buriganga, but all major rivers in Dhaka division. The fact that the local administration has undertaken the setting up of some 8,000 or so boundary pillars stretching nearly 200km of the Turag, Balu and Buriganga rivers shows the extent of the project.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority intends to construct 5km of walkways on the banks of the Turag River in Gabtoli and a further 3.8km at Amin Bazaar after work on the pillars is completed. It is the intention of the authorities to designate which places along the rivers where business establishments can be set up once demarcation and subsequent construction of walkways are completed. The problem here is that unscrupulous traders and business establishments are taking advantage of the lack of monitoring by government agencies and conducting illegal lifting of sand and making landfills. While relevant authorities may have the best of intentions, the demarcation exercise is likely to be a failed experiment unless active measures are taken now to stop illegal encroachment through stringent and active monitoring.
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