HC directive sought for pillars in 7 days

A Supreme Court lawyer yesterday filed a petition with the High Court, seeking its directives on the government to set up pillars on the original boundaries of the Balu and Turag rivers to prevent them from being encroached upon.
Manzill Murshid submitted the petition on behalf of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB), praying to the HC to order the government to start activities to establish the pillars in seven days.
He said the HC in a judgment on June 25, 2009, directed the government to demarcate the original boundaries of the Balu, Turag, Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers through a special survey committee as per CS (cadastral survey) and RS (revisional survey) records, to set up pillars on the boundaries and to construct walkways on their banks in two years. The HC directives came following a writ petition filed by HRPB.
In yesterday's petition, Manzill said the government had demarcated the areas of the rivers and started establishing pillars on the boundaries of the rivers, but it had reportedly stopped setting up pillars on the boundaries of the Balu and Turag more than two years back.
Lands of the two rivers at many places have been grabbed and structures have been constructed there, as the administration has not resumed setting up pillars on their boundaries, the lawyer said.
Manzill Murshid told The Daily Star that there was no dispute about compliance with the HC directives to set up pillars on the boundaries of the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya.
He said the HC might hear the petition on July 20.