Govt plans Dhaleswari dredging

Govt to float int�l tender this week

The government has decided to dredge the river Dhaleswari from Hazrapur point near Tulshikhali bridge under Nababganj thana to Zabra point under Manikganj district. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken up the Tk 100-crore project for dredging a 62-km-long stretch of the river.
Experts, however, said such dredging would not be sustainable if it is not connected to the river Padma.
“The river has dried up during the dry season and water vessels cannot move. This river is very important for our economy. We’ve taken up the project, considering the importance of the waterway,” Saidur Rahman, superintendent engineer, BIWTA, told The Independent yesterday.
He said the dredging will be carried out in two phases and that the government will float an international tender this week. “Water vessels carrying fertilisers, food and passengers could be easily moved using the route after completion of the dredging. Besides, farmers could use the river water for irrigation purposes,” he added.
The main objective of this dredging work is to restore the river’s navigability to help increase fish farming,  said Rahman. This is the first time the river will be dredged, he added.
However, an expert expressed scepticism over the project. “If the flow of the river doesn't increase, the project won’t be sustainable. The project length should be extended down to the Daulatdia point at the Padma from Zabra point to increase the flow of the river Dhaleswari.  Otherwise, the entire money will go down the drain,” SI Khan, a former official of the United Nations on water, told The Independent.
He said the government has taken up several projects on river dredging. But most of these projects are not scientific and others are suffering for years due to lack of funds, the water expert added.
“The government has to plan on a priority basis. They must complete certain projects before embarking on a new one. Otherwise, no project will be completed in due time and the whole exercise would only be misuse of funds,” Khan observed.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved Tk. 18.73 billion in September 2012 to make 24 important river routes navigable. As per the Development Project Proposal (DPP), the BIWTA has aimed at completing the dredging of inland waterways by June 2018.
The BIWTA has recently taken up a mega project of Tk. 12,000 crore to restore 53 moribund river routes by dredging. The project is also likely to help reclamation of farmlands by dumping dredge spoils.
According to the BIWTA, waterways are shrinking rapidly across the country. Currently, about 5,500 km of waterways are navigable during the rainy season and about 2,500 km during the dry season.
Major rivers like the Meghna, Jamuna, Padma, Dhaleswari, Ichhamati, Arialkhan, Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, Balu, Dakatia, Shandhya, Kangsha, Kaliganga and Gumti will be dredged in phases under the project to restore 24 important river routes.

Govt plans Dhaleswari dredging

Govt to float int�l tender this week

The government has decided to dredge the river Dhaleswari from Hazrapur point near Tulshikhali bridge under Nababganj thana to Zabra point under Manikganj district. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has taken up the Tk 100-crore project for dredging a 62-km-long stretch of the river. Experts, however, said such dredging would not be sustainable if it is not connected to the river Padma. The river has dried up during the dry season and water vessels cannot move. This river is very important for our economy. Weve taken up the project, considering the importance of the waterway, Saidur Rahman, superintendent engineer, BIWTA, told The Independent yesterday. He said the dredging will be carried out in two phases and that the government will float an international tender this week. Water vessels carrying fertilisers, food and passengers could be easily moved using the route after completion of the dredging. Besides, farmers could use the river water for irrigation purposes, he added. The main objective of this dredging work is to restore the rivers navigability to help increase fish farming, said Rahman. This is the first time the river will be dredged, he added. However, an expert expressed scepticism over the project. If the flow of the river doesnt increase, the project wont be sustainable. The project length should be extended down to the Daulatdia point at the Padma from Zabra point to increase the flow of the river Dhaleswari. Otherwise, the entire money will go down the drain, SI Khan, a former official of the United Nations on water, told The Independent. He said the government has taken up several projects on river dredging. But most of these projects are not scientific and others are suffering for years due to lack of funds, the water expert added. The government has to plan on a priority basis. They must complete certain projects before embarking on a new one. Otherwise, no project will be completed in due time and the whole exercise would only be misuse of funds, Khan observed. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved Tk. 18.73 billion in September 2012 to make 24 important river routes navigable. As per the Development Project Proposal (DPP), the BIWTA has aimed at completing the dredging of inland waterways by June 2018. The BIWTA has recently taken up a mega project of Tk. 12,000 crore to restore 53 moribund river routes by dredging. The project is also likely to help reclamation of farmlands by dumping dredge spoils. According to the BIWTA, waterways are shrinking rapidly across the country. Currently, about 5,500 km of waterways are navigable during the rainy season and about 2,500 km during the dry season. Major rivers like the Meghna, Jamuna, Padma, Dhaleswari, Ichhamati, Arialkhan, Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakhya, Balu, Dakatia, Shandhya, Kangsha, Kaliganga and Gumti will be dredged in phases under the project to restore 24 important river routes.