Wasa knocks down illegal structures

Dhaka Wasa knocked down 20 illegal makeshift shops and two concrete structures on the Ramchandrapur canal in the capital's Mohammadpur area yesterday, the second day of its three-day drive.
The drive is aimed at freeing a 1.5-kilometre area of the three-km long canal, stretching from Shia Mosque to Gabtoli, of illegal settlements.
Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) demolished at least 50 structures on Shekhertek bank of the canal on Saturday.
Monir Hossain, a resident in the area, said influential locals in collusion with some Wasa officials took bribes from the encroachers for allowing them to build illegal structures on the canal.
Ruhul Amin, executive engineer of Wasa (drainage division), said some low-rank Wasa employees, not any top officials, could have been involved in the bribery.
He said they could not remove a half a kilometre road built illegally by a private housing company, as there is no alternative road for the residents of the housing.
Asked how so many illegal structures had been built on the canal over the years, he said the district administration, responsible for looking after the canal, had not previously demarcated its area for reclamation.
At least 200 illegal makeshift structures and a dozen buildings were built encroaching on the canal.
Wasa will resume its drive today to clear the canal of the remaining illegal structures.