Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel dredging
Tk 250cr project at stake
Experts recommend tidal basin to keep channel operational
ANISUR RAHMAN KHAN
The future of a Tk 250 crore project undertaken to revitalise the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel is at stake due to unabated encroachment on major link canals by influential quarters. The project was taken up on priority at the prime ministers behest in order to protect Sundarbans, the worlds largest mangrove forest. There are about 200 canals that link the channel and help increase the tidal volume. But grabbers involved in shrimp cultivation and poldering are yet to open the mouths of the canals despite directives from the prime minister.
The Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel is commercially important as its the protocol route with India. At present, vessels moving through the Sundarbans use the Shela river route to bypass the Mongla-Ghashikhali channel due to the lack of navigability. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) constructed and opened the artificial 31-km route in November 1973 to maintain a link between Mongla sea port, Khulna and Noapara with other parts of the country.
Now, the BIWTA has expressed grave concern about the feasibility of the channel as the grabbed portions on the link canals, which are its lifeline, are not freed. Besides, the authorities have started the dredging work, ignoring the recommendations of experts for the construction of a tidal basin first to make the channel navigable round the year.
Against this backdrop, the Bangladesh Navy has been entrusted with the responsibility of removing 16.5 lakh cubic metre of silt from the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel at a cost of Tk 45.33 crore, BIWTA sources said.
We have already removed 70 lakh cubic metre of silt out of one crore metre from the channel. Its very tough to keep it navigable due to interruptions in tidal volume as certain influential people continue to occupy the link canals, MA Matin, Chief Engineer (dredging) of BIWTA told The Independent.
When asked about the dredging task assigned to the Bangladesh Navy, he said that a summary of the work has been prepared and it would be sent to the shipping ministry within a couple of days for approval.
Out of the governments estimate of Tk 250 crore for the dredging work, the BIWTA has already spent Tk 165 crore. Maminul Haque Sarkar, Deputy Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), told The Independent yesterday that a tidal basin might have to be constructed to restore the Mongla-Ghasiakhali river route.
It would be very costly to keep the route navigable round the year. Shrimp cultivation and poldering in the south-western region are the major reasons for the river route dying rapidly. The available navigation draft for the Mongla-Ghashiakhali route shrunk rapidly in the late 1990s due to reduced tidal volume. Until the tidal volume increases, this route will not be operational, the river expert said.
Poldering and shrimp cultivation not only minimises the tidal volume but also causes drainage congestion in the tidal area. If this continues in the tidal area, the channel wont be viable for navigation despite spending crores of taka, he added.
The government, however, has assigned the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDP) for the construction of the tidal basin for the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel. The BWDB has been asked to prepare a detailed project plan DPP within a month. It got the direction following an inter-ministerial meeting held at the shipping ministry on Monday.
