Mobile courts to realise heavy fine from river encroachers: Minister

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday said mobile courts have been directed to realise hefty amounts of fine from those engaged in encroaching or polluting rivers, reports UNB.
The Shipping Minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after the 32nd taskforce meeting on restoring the navigability of rivers, including that of the Buriganga, Sitalakhhya, Balu and Turag, held at the Secretariat with the minister the chair.
“Mobile courts are conducting drives to check illegal encroachments.  The taskforce committee has asked the mobile courts to realise heavy fine from river encroachers and polluters,” he said.
Besides, a decision was taken to ask the owners of the industrial units and holdings in the capital to manage their sewerage system on their own arrangements, he said.
Referring to river encroachers, Shahjahan said zero tolerance will be showed towards them. “No one of those involved in grabbing rivers illegally will be spared and the rivers will be freed from illegal encroachment in phases,” he said.
Expressing dissatisfaction over tannery relocation, the minister said the taskforce will visit Hazaribagh tannery on August 3 and directive will be given after observing the situation.
Only 2 tanneries have been shifted by the time while the relocation process 30 more will be completed by this year, he added.
Talking about the walkways to be built on riverbanks in and around the capital, the minister said the construction of 20 km of walkway out of 240 km has been completed while that of 50 km will be built during the tenure of the current government.
Besides, the deputy commissioners and authorities concerned of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authorities have been asked to solve the problem raised against the construction work of river boundary pillars as there has been an allegation that 458 pillars out of 4063 have not been installed properly, he said.
Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam, Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid and high officials concerned of BIWTA were, among others, present.

Mobile courts to realise heavy fine from river encroachers: Minister

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday said mobile courts have been directed to realise hefty amounts of fine from those engaged in encroaching or polluting rivers, reports UNB. The Shipping Minister came up with the information while talking to reporters after the 32nd taskforce meeting on restoring the navigability of rivers, including that of the Buriganga, Sitalakhhya, Balu and Turag, held at the Secretariat with the minister the chair. Mobile courts are conducting drives to check illegal encroachments. The taskforce committee has asked the mobile courts to realise heavy fine from river encroachers and polluters, he said. Besides, a decision was taken to ask the owners of the industrial units and holdings in the capital to manage their sewerage system on their own arrangements, he said. Referring to river encroachers, Shahjahan said zero tolerance will be showed towards them. No one of those involved in grabbing rivers illegally will be spared and the rivers will be freed from illegal encroachment in phases, he said. Expressing dissatisfaction over tannery relocation, the minister said the taskforce will visit Hazaribagh tannery on August 3 and directive will be given after observing the situation. Only 2 tanneries have been shifted by the time while the relocation process 30 more will be completed by this year, he added. Talking about the walkways to be built on riverbanks in and around the capital, the minister said the construction of 20 km of walkway out of 240 km has been completed while that of 50 km will be built during the tenure of the current government. Besides, the deputy commissioners and authorities concerned of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authorities have been asked to solve the problem raised against the construction work of river boundary pillars as there has been an allegation that 458 pillars out of 4063 have not been installed properly, he said. Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam, Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid and high officials concerned of BIWTA were, among others, present.