Canal grabbers to be evicted soon: Tajul Islam

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam today said those who have illegally occupied the canals, including the original (Adi) Buriganga channel, and built various infrastructures in the capital by making fake documents, will be evicted soon.

He said this while talking to reporters after a meeting at the conference room of the Local Government Division at the secretariat here to formulate an integrated action plan for drainage of rainwater in the city and management of natural canals.

Besides, no compromise will be made in implementing the ideology of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and providing civic amenities under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the minister added.

He said that all the places or lands will be identified step by step according to the measures of Central Settlement (CS) and Revisional Settlement (RS), under all concerned including the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Dhaka District Administration.

He hoped that the Dhaka City Corporations would carry out the eviction drives in collaboration with all other concerned institutions or bodies of the government and the two mayors would be successful to this end in the days to come.

Replying to a question on whether the canals under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and other government agencies would be handed over to the city corporations or not, the minister said the responsibility of canals has been given to two city corporations from Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) as the public representative bodies will be more responsible.

The minister also said an inter-ministerial meeting would be held for discussing the issue of handing over the responsibility of the canals to the two city corporations.

Highlighting the various action plans taken by the two city corporations for drainage of rainwater and management of natural canals to alleviate water-logging in the city, the minister told reporters that two city corporations are working very sincerely to this end.

He also directed all concerned to coordinate and adopt action plans and projects especially on these aforesaid issues.

The meeting was attended by Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Local Government Division Senior Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Md Sayeed Noor Alam and chief executive officers (CEOs) of two city corporations.