90pc river banks free of illegal occupation: State Minister
State Minister for Delivery Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Mon said 90 percent river banking institutions along the Dhaka city and its own adjacent areas have already been freed from unlawful encroachment.
“Focus on stretching boundary pillar, solid wall and walkway is certainly going on. The task of the river banking institutions will be finished by 2023-2024,” he said.
The Minister developed the information while visiting the Buriganga and Turag river banks project.
“We've faced many issues during the drive against against the law encroachment but we overcame them with the support of the Prime Minister. Besides, the Shipping Ministry includes a rigid stance on keeping the river banking institutions of the city clear of occupiers,” he said.
The federal government has taken a tree plantation programme in a bid to build ‘green wall’ on the river banks, said Khalid.
Besides, a master method was approved for protecting the river, so that it is free from terrain grabbers, pollution and for the production of the environment and once implemented, river vessels can be operated through Dhaka, he said.
The Minister also inaugurated the tree plantation programme in Birulia.
Additional secretary to Delivery Ministry Anal Chandra Das, Chairman of Bangladesh Inland Normal water Transportation Authority (BIWTA), Commodore Golam Mohammad Sadek and project director Nurul Haque were present there.
