Staff Reporter:
The government has formed an 11-member working group to build a “Blue Network” for protecting the canals in Dhaka after recovering those from illegal encroachers, according to a notification issued on 5 November.
“To bring back the normal flow of Dhaka’s canals and build a ‘Blue Network’ after freeing those free from illegal occupations and pollutions, a working group of 11 members was formed,” the notification said.
The members of the group are: Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), representatives from Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Department of Environment, National River Protection Commission, Local Government Engineering Department, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), (one member of) NGO/volunteer organization and student (selected by local administration.
The group has been asked to prepare the primary work plan after holing a workshop within three days and draft the final work plan by 30 November by holding dialogues with all stakeholders.
According the available statistics, there are 69 canals within the two city corporations’ jurisdictions, but many of these have disappeared.
Among the existing ones, the DNCC oversees 29 canals and one water body, while the DSCC manages 11 canals.
The DSCC later identified 14 more canals, bringing its total to 25.
