National Housing Authority (NHA) officials cautioned that a huge part of Mirpur area could face heavy waterlogging due to the filling up of the canal between Mirpur section 2 and Rupnagar Tin-shed area, which drains out storm water of the densely populated area.

The Mirpur zone office of the housing authority has complained at Pallabi Police Station for preventing the illegal filling and recommended conducting eviction drives against those illegal encroachments to keep the sewerage line free.

Police recently visited the area and warned the caretakers and workers engaged in the illegal earth-filling work. Locals said the land grabbers continue their illegal activities at night after the police cautioned them on road number 23, 27 and 28. They construct structures on the filled up spaces and rented them for various purposes.

Unsafe and illegally connected gas, power and water lines were found in the grabbed plots. Locals said a section of dishonest employees from the utility service agencies regularly collect money for the illegal connections from the owners.

Religious institutions like madrasa or orphanages have also been established there to protect those from eviction. One Abdul Kader established Baitul Noor Madrasa and orphanage on the canal. The orphans often have to work for filling up the canal.

Rana, a construction contractor while filling up a plot at night with rubbish told Star City, "I don't think about the legality of the plot. I just know I got a contract and I hope to make at least Tk 2,000 after completing the work."

Abdul Mannan, owner of such a plot at road number 28 at Rupnagar said, "I have proper documents with signatures of the officials of the National Housing Authority's Mirpur zone. I bought the land from one Abdul Khaleq and it is duly registered."

"Now, the National Housing Authority is claiming the land as a sewerage canal. If the plot is illegal, the NHA officials are responsible for it," said Mannan who got an eviction notice from the NHA. The matter is now pending at courts.

An NHA engineer in charge of Mirpur section 2 and Runagar residential areas said except for the Shiyalbari lake and the main drainage canal, there is no other open water sources in the area and both the water bodies are facing rapid encroachments.

According to the master plan designed in 1984 for the vast residential area, the western fringes of the allotted plots are maintained for the main drainage canal and a 60 feet ring road is supposed to be built from avenue 3 to road number 33.

"Without the two water bodies, the whole area would suffer water crisis for daily use or during fire accidents. On the other hand, if the main drainage canal gets blocked, the whole sewerage system of the area would collapse," the engineer cautioned.