16,400km waterways lost in 60 years
Bangladesh lost 16,400 kilometres of waterways in the last 60-odd years, state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury informed the parliament yesterday.
The state minister said there was 24,000 kilometres of waterways in 1960, but now it stands at 7,600 kilometres, while replying to a query from lawmaker Abdul Latif.
Concerned authorities’ negligence, absence of proper planning and supervision as well as natural changes were some reasons for shrinking of riverways in the country, Khalid Mahmud said.
He said the government has recovered 1,600 kilometres of riverways by dredging river and waterbodies. “We have plans to increase another 10,000 kilometres of waterways by dredging 178 rivers,” he said.
Authorities have knocked down 15,175 illegal structures and recovered 566 acres of land along Buriganga, Turag,
Balu and Shitalakkhya rivers, the state minister added in reply to a query by Awami League MP Ishrafil Alam.
Khalid Mahmud said construction of walkways, benches, eco-park and tree plantation on the riverbanks are going on after recovery from encroachment, to make sure these banks do not get occupied again.
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