Don't listen to anyone's objections, make lakes by Kuril: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken a tough stance against real estate companies and ordered two lakes beside Dhaka's Kuril Flyover.

She directed the Ministry of Housing and Public Works to execute the project without compromising with the builders.

At a ministry programme on Sunday the prime minister said two lakes were supposed to be made near Kuril Flyover.

She said she was aware of many obstructions.

Police resist them since parts of the land belong to them. Jamuna and Bashundhara companies, too, are fiercely opposing it.

"These objections don't matter. There are two lakes in the main plan. So, it should be executed quickly.

"There's no need to pay heed to anyone's objections," the prime minister said.

She ordered to go ahead with the plan saying the lakes would be connected to a river. They will help draining out water during floods and heavy rain.

"There will be no compromise. So you must start your works quickly," she added.

The prime minister in an Aug 25 Cabinet meeting emphasised making lakes on both sides of a road from Kuril Flyover to Purbachal new city project.

A month later, she ordered land ministry to go tough on 'land grabber' real estate companies who put up 'signboards on water bodies'.

At Sunday's meeting, she said the Jamuna or Bashundhara groups wanted to construct 'box culverts' around Kuril Flyover area instead of lakes.

She said she was strictly against 'box culverts'. "There will be open lakes.

"They (Jamuna and Bashundhara) are not short on money, they can construct bridges beside the lakes if they need," Hasina said.

She said Pakistan's military dictator Ayub Khan had shut the Motijheel lake and later other governments too closed canals or built 'box culverts' on them in Dhaka.

"These canals are like the veins of a city. Please keep my request and don't allow any more box culverts inside the city," the prime minister said.

She asked officials to go ahead with the plan saying the lakes would be connected to a river. They will help draining out flood and heavy waters.

"There will be no compromise. So you must quickly start your work," she added.

The prime minister in an Aug 25 Cabinet meeting emphasised making lakes on both sides of a road from Kuril Flyover to Purbachal New Town project.

A month later, Hasina ordered land ministry to go tough on land shark realtors that put up 'signboards on water bodies'.

At Sunday's meeting, she said the Jamuna Group or Bashundhara Group wanted to construct 'box culverts' around Kuril Flyover area instead of lakes.

She was strictly against 'box culverts'. "There will be open lakes."

"They (Jamuna and Bashundhara) are not short on money, they can construct bridges beside the lakes if they need."

She said Pakistan's military dictator Ayub Khan had shut the Motijheel lake and later other governments, too, closed canals or built 'box culverts' on them in Dhaka.

"These canals are like the arteries of a city. Please keep my request and don't allow any more box culverts inside the city," the prime minister said.