Re-excavating canals

It is encouraging to note that the Bangladesh Navy is likely to take up the excavation work of 83 canals and river links with the Mongla–Ghashiakhali channel, as the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), which took up the projects in 2015, has failed to deliver. According to a report of this newspaper on Wednesday, the WDB has failed to demolish illegal structures, including shrimp enclosures, built in the 31 major canals connected to the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel. The WDB faces difficulties in evicting illegal structures, as the process is very complicated. The Navy can easily overcome such difficulties. The mouths of these canals have been sealed by politically influential groups involved in shrimp farming. It would be easy to execute the projects, including the dismantling of the illegal structures, if the Navy is given the task.

There is no denying the fact that the wetlands play a vital role in protecting country’s environment, flora and fauna, bio-diversity and ecological balance. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed in Ramsar city in Iran in 1971 aiming at conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.  Bangladesh is crisscrossed by scores of rivers, marshes, canals and ponds. Fishes are available in these water bodies aplenty. No noteworthy measures have been taken to protect the wetlands in the country. Unplanned and uncoordinated urbanisation has also taken toll on the wetlands.   

   It is worrying to note that the rivers and water bodies around Dhaka are shrinking day by day. Once there were many canals in Dhaka city. Those have been grabbled and filled up by the land sharks. Residential and commercial buildings have been constructed on those canals.  This has hampered the drainage system in the city exposing the city dwellers to immense suffering triggered by severe water-logging during monsoon. Encroachers are enjoying heydays in grabbing them.  Influential people enjoying patronage of political leaders and a section of dishonest government officials are abetting the crime in exchange for bribes.   

Many canals have dried up and are lying unutilized throughout the country. Those should be re-excavated and brought under fish cultivation. Provision of bank loans on easy terms and conditions and adequate training to the fish culturists, particularly jobless youths, can give impetus in this regard.  The government should take stringent measures for the protection of the wetlands in no time. The encroached canals should be recovered and the grabbers should be brought to justice. Vigilance should be maintained so that in future canals cannot be grabbed further. There is no alternative to protecting the wetlands for our survival.

 

Re-excavating canals

It is encouraging to note that the Bangladesh Navy is likely to take up the excavation work of 83 canals and river links with the MonglaGhashiakhali channel, as the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), which took up the projects in 2015, has failed to deliver. According to a report of this newspaper on Wednesday, the WDB has failed to demolish illegal structures, including shrimp enclosures, built in the 31 major canals connected to the Mongla-Ghashiakhali channel. The WDB faces difficulties in evicting illegal structures, as the process is very complicated. The Navy can easily overcome such difficulties. The mouths of these canals have been sealed by politically influential groups involved in shrimp farming. It would be easy to execute the projects, including the dismantling of the illegal structures, if the Navy is given the task. There is no denying the fact that the wetlands play a vital role in protecting countrys environment, flora and fauna, bio-diversity and ecological balance. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance was signed in Ramsar city in Iran in 1971 aiming at conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Bangladesh is crisscrossed by scores of rivers, marshes, canals and ponds. Fishes are available in these water bodies aplenty. No noteworthy measures have been taken to protect the wetlands in the country. Unplanned and uncoordinated urbanisation has also taken toll on the wetlands. It is worrying to note that the rivers and water bodies around Dhaka are shrinking day by day. Once there were many canals in Dhaka city. Those have been grabbled and filled up by the land sharks. Residential and commercial buildings have been constructed on those canals. This has hampered the drainage system in the city exposing the city dwellers to immense suffering triggered by severe water-logging during monsoon. Encroachers are enjoying heydays in grabbing them. Influential people enjoying patronage of political leaders and a section of dishonest government officials are abetting the crime in exchange for bribes. Many canals have dried up and are lying unutilized throughout the country. Those should be re-excavated and brought under fish cultivation. Provision of bank loans on easy terms and conditions and adequate training to the fish culturists, particularly jobless youths, can give impetus in this regard. The government should take stringent measures for the protection of the wetlands in no time. The encroached canals should be recovered and the grabbers should be brought to justice. Vigilance should be maintained so that in future canals cannot be grabbed further. There is no alternative to protecting the wetlands for our survival.