Advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Syeda Rizwana Hasan has instructed the Bangladesh Water Development Board, BIWTA, River Protection Commission and Divisional Commissioners to finalize the correct number of rivers in the country within the next 2 months. He said that the jointly prepared list should be published on the website to give an opportunity to submit public opinion and objections and hearings should be conducted in applicable cases after accepting the objections. He will identify at least 64 rivers in 64 districts and submit a time-based, cost-effective, action plan within the next 2 months to evict the illegal encroachers of the rivers and later evict the encroachers through coordinated operations.
Environment and Water Resources Adviser said these things in an inter-ministerial meeting held virtually on Wednesday night to determine the actual number of rivers in Bangladesh and capture and depollution of endangered rivers.
In the management meeting of the Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, Nazmul Ahsan, Advisor to the Ministry of Shipping and Jute and Textiles, Brigadier General (retd.) M. Sakhawat Hossain, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Chairman of BIWTA, Director General of Environment Directorate, Director General of Land Records and Survey Directorate, representatives of River Protection Commission and Divisional Commissioners spoke.
In the meeting, the Water Resources Adviser said that the Department of Environment will prepare a list of the most polluted rivers in the country and identify polluting individuals/institutions and carry out regular operations and supervision to control pollution. List the rivers affected by plastic pollution and plan action to get rid of the pollution. The Department of Environment will prepare a ‘Health Card’ for all rivers, which will identify the life of the river. Local residents, young generation, social organizations, NGOs should be involved and given the responsibility of monitoring in the operation and later to prevent encroachment and pollution. All offices should start a program to avoid the use of plastic water bottles, plastic folders and plastic banners.
The environmental advisor said that the BIWTA will exchange views with experts on the latest status of the Dhaka Circular Waterway proposal and the feasibility of this proposal. The concerned ministry will regularly review the progress of implementation of the above instructions.
According to the order of the court, within 3 months, the river protection commission will finalize the proposal to amend the law. A committee should be formed for this purpose. A detailed list of ongoing and implemented river dredging projects along with cost and impact should be provided with views and implications.
In the meeting, the Shipping Adviser directed the Divisional Commissioners and District Commissioners to clear the banks of important rivers including Kirtankhola, Rupsa from illegal encroachment. He said that a campaign will be done with the Ministry of Environment to ban illegal polythene bags and promote the widespread use of eco-friendly jute bags.
It should be noted that the Bangladesh Water Development Board, River Protection Commission, Ministry of Shipping and water experts have observed differences in the total number of rivers in the country. In view of this, a decision was taken in the meeting to formulate an action plan to implement the directives of the writ petition number-8539/2021 filed in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.
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