1,180km waterways restored in 8yrs

BIWTA project to develop 2,386 km waterways at a cost of Tk 1,923cr by 2021

The government has taken up dredging projects to restore the country’s 53 important rivers and increase their navigability to keep the waterways navigable round the year. The project was taken as many of the country’s waterways have been suffering navigability problems, with most of the rivers losing their capacity to contain water because of heavy siltation and the construction of illegal structures on riverbeds.

As part of the plan, the government had taken up, in July 2012, a 10-year project at a cost of Tk 1,923 crore to develop a total of 2,386 km of waterways by 2021.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has been implementing the project to restore 24 important river routes (first phase) and has already restored a total of 1,180 km of waterways by spending Tk 1,057 crore during the last eight years.

The rivers under the project are Mongla Ghashiakhali Channel (MG Channel), Khogdon, Laukathi, Bhola Nala, Kirtonkhola, Titas, Surma, Baulai, Natun Nadi, Rakti, Raksha Nala, Mogra, Kangsha, Bhogai-Kangsha, Buri, Ichamati, Karnatali, Palrodi, Dhaleswari, Kaliganga, Madhumati, Bhairab, Atrai, Dudhkumar, Old Brahmaputra and Arial Kha.

“We will start the second phase covering the remaining important river routes after the completion of the 24 important river routes (first phase). We have already completed 70 per cent of the work of the first-phase projects. We are hopeful, the remaining will be completed within the stipulated period of June 2021,” Saidur Rahman, additional chief engineer (dredging) of BIWTA told this correspondent.

A total of 997 lakh cubic metres of silt would be removed under the project, he said, adding that a total of 2,386 km of waterways would be developed for round-the-year navigation.

According to Rahman, “We have already removed 570.44 lakh cubic metres of silt under the project at a cost of Tk 1,057 crore. Of them, 474.74 lakh cubic metres were removed by private dredgers, 70.70 lakh cubic metres by the BIWTA’s own dredgers and 25 lakh cubic metres with the help of excavators. A total of 1,175 km of waterways have already been made navigable under the project.”

The government allocated Tk 200 crore for the project in the current fiscal year, he said, adding that 33 dredgers had been deployed in 16 river routes under the project.

He said the MG channel had become totally inoperative in 2011 but was opened for operation in 2015 after the completion of dredging.

Now, vessels of 8–14 feet draft were frequently operating in the MG Channel, Rahman said, adding that the channel water was 12 feet during low-tide and 20 feet during high tide.

According to BIWTA sources, about 220 colleges, schools and madrasas, dwelling units for the poor and a stadium have been built with the dredged materials in Sunamganj, Cumilla, Netrokona and Mymensingh districts.

The BIWTA has built a stadium on 12 acres of ‘khash’ land by filling it with dredged materials in Phulpur upazila, in Mymensingh, district. According to the sources, over 2,000

families have benefited, as the height of their houses from the water level have increased due to the dredged materials. This would protect the dwellings from flood waters.

 “Besides a stadium in Phulpur, a playground has also been created in Cumilla’s Ramchandrapur with dredged materials. We have already completed eight routes out of 24 river routes under the first phase of the dredging work,” Rahman said.

Besides, work on three river routes had begun recently and the total dredging work would be completed by 2021 as per the amended development project profile (DPP), he added.

Asked about the delay in the completion of the project, which started in 2012, he said, “We have to face various problems in implementing the projects. Sometimes, the local administrations don’t help the BIWTA in implementing them. Besides, disputes of demarcation, leasing of sand and lack of space for dumping dredged materials are also hindrances.”

The production of crops, ducks, fish and trading on waterways would increase after the completion of dredging work, Rahman hoped.

He also observed that the farmers could use the river waters round the year for irrigation.

 

1,180km waterways restored in 8yrs

BIWTA project to develop 2,386 km waterways at a cost of Tk 1,923cr by 2021

The government has taken up dredging projects to restore the countrys 53 important rivers and increase their navigability to keep the waterways navigable round the year. The project was taken as many of the countrys waterways have been suffering navigability problems, with most of the rivers losing their capacity to contain water because of heavy siltation and the construction of illegal structures on riverbeds. As part of the plan, the government had taken up, in July 2012, a 10-year project at a cost of Tk 1,923 crore to develop a total of 2,386 km of waterways by 2021. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has been implementing the project to restore 24 important river routes (first phase) and has already restored a total of 1,180 km of waterways by spending Tk 1,057 crore during the last eight years. The rivers under the project are Mongla Ghashiakhali Channel (MG Channel), Khogdon, Laukathi, Bhola Nala, Kirtonkhola, Titas, Surma, Baulai, Natun Nadi, Rakti, Raksha Nala, Mogra, Kangsha, Bhogai-Kangsha, Buri, Ichamati, Karnatali, Palrodi, Dhaleswari, Kaliganga, Madhumati, Bhairab, Atrai, Dudhkumar, Old Brahmaputra and Arial Kha. We will start the second phase covering the remaining important river routes after the completion of the 24 important river routes (first phase). We have already completed 70 per cent of the work of the first-phase projects. We are hopeful, the remaining will be completed within the stipulated period of June 2021, Saidur Rahman, additional chief engineer (dredging) of BIWTA told this correspondent. A total of 997 lakh cubic metres of silt would be removed under the project, he said, adding that a total of 2,386 km of waterways would be developed for round-the-year navigation. According to Rahman, We have already removed 570.44 lakh cubic metres of silt under the project at a cost of Tk 1,057 crore. Of them, 474.74 lakh cubic metres were removed by private dredgers, 70.70 lakh cubic metres by the BIWTAs own dredgers and 25 lakh cubic metres with the help of excavators. A total of 1,175 km of waterways have already been made navigable under the project. The government allocated Tk 200 crore for the project in the current fiscal year, he said, adding that 33 dredgers had been deployed in 16 river routes under the project. He said the MG channel had become totally inoperative in 2011 but was opened for operation in 2015 after the completion of dredging. Now, vessels of 814 feet draft were frequently operating in the MG Channel, Rahman said, adding that the channel water was 12 feet during low-tide and 20 feet during high tide. According to BIWTA sources, about 220 colleges, schools and madrasas, dwelling units for the poor and a stadium have been built with the dredged materials in Sunamganj, Cumilla, Netrokona and Mymensingh districts. The BIWTA has built a stadium on 12 acres of khash land by filling it with dredged materials in Phulpur upazila, in Mymensingh, district. According to the sources, over 2,000 families have benefited, as the height of their houses from the water level have increased due to the dredged materials. This would protect the dwellings from flood waters. Besides a stadium in Phulpur, a playground has also been created in Cumillas Ramchandrapur with dredged materials. We have already completed eight routes out of 24 river routes under the first phase of the dredging work, Rahman said. Besides, work on three river routes had begun recently and the total dredging work would be completed by 2021 as per the amended development project profile (DPP), he added. Asked about the delay in the completion of the project, which started in 2012, he said, We have to face various problems in implementing the projects. Sometimes, the local administrations dont help the BIWTA in implementing them. Besides, disputes of demarcation, leasing of sand and lack of space for dumping dredged materials are also hindrances. The production of crops, ducks, fish and trading on waterways would increase after the completion of dredging work, Rahman hoped. He also observed that the farmers could use the river waters round the year for irrigation.