Want to see boats plying Rupnagar canal: Mayor Atiq

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam yesterday said authorities want to see boats plying from Rupnagar canal to Turag river. 

He made the comment while observing cleaning activities of Rupnagar canal.

Atiqul, who walked around one kilometre beside the canal, said there was huge solid waste in the canal and they cleaned it. Around 50 workers cleaned the canal, working for 15 days.

The canal is 2 km long and 60 feet wide, and now authorities are planning to beautify both sides of it, he said.

Atiqul said primarily, they will plant trees on the sides and create cycle-lane later. If they can make cycle-lanes and walkways running along the canal, then pressure on roads will reduce.

"We have already started planting trees for its greenery," said Atiqul, who also planted a mango tree beside the canal.

Urging all encroachers to remove illegal structures beside the canal, the mayor said otherwise, they will evict them with help from locals.

About the holding tax, the mayor said residents of DNCC areas will be able to pay their holding tax from home from March.

He also distributed face-masks among garbage management workers.

After visiting the canal, the mayor went to Mohammadpur BRTC Bus Depot and announced expansion of road demolition of the depot's boundary walls to reduce traffic congestion.

He also visited Tajmahal Eidgah and Shaheed Park playgrounds. BRTC Chairperson Md Ehsan-E-Elahi, DNCC Ward-31 Councillor Shafiqul Islam Sentu and Ward-33 Councillor Asif Ahmed, among others, accompanied him.