Dhaka, July 24 (BDNEWS) – The government plans to undertake a massive project to solve the perennial water logging problem in the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) project at a cost of TK 233 crore.
The water resources ministry has already prepared the project and submitted it to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for approval, sources said.
The water resources ministry, in association with other service sectors, has also undertaken several other measures, including eviction of 1,254 illegal establishments and canal digging, to relieve the people from the untold sufferings inside the DND area.
At a meeting held in the ministry Sunday, the water resources minister M Hafizuddin Ahmed said the eviction of 1,254 illegal establishments would stat from July 26.
The meeting was attended, among others, by local lawmakers Salauddin Ahmed and Giasuddin Ahmed, acting secretary to the ministry Abdul Aziz.
Besides, representatives from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakha (RAJUK), Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Dhaka Electricity Supplying Authority (DESA), Water Development Board (WDB) and other service sectors were also present at the meeting.
According to the ministry, with a view to controlling flood, developing sewerage system and producing more crops, the then government started the DND irrigation project in 1968 at a cost of TK 2.33 crore covering 56.79 square kilometre area.
But the area later turned into a residential one despite having no facility. Thanks to establishment of mills and factories, illegal occupation of the embankment, filling of canal illegally and construction of roads and lanes in an unplanned way inside the embankment for compounding the sufferings of the people of the area.
Most of the houses and establishments inside the embankment remain under water for half of the year under water.
Meeting sources said, 10 more pump stations would be set up for pump out the stagnant water in the Shitlakhya river. Currently six pumps are doing the job but insufficient compared to the requirement.
According to the meeting sources, the government has planned to undertake different measures in two phases — short-term and long-term — to solve the water logging problem.
A technical committee headed by the chief engineer of WDB has also been formed to look into the matter.
The residents in the area have been suffering from scarcity of pure drinking water. Gas and electricity crises have added to their miseries as gas burners have gone under water.
Many industrial units located inside the DND embankment area have suspended their operations due to water logging. Most of the educational institutions were also closed.
BDNEWS/1910 hrs
