Govt dredges 1600km river routes in 10 years

The government has dredged 1600 kilometres rover routes in the last 10 years raising the total river routes to 7,600 kilometres from 6,000 kilometres.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury gave the information in the parliament on Sunday, reports BSS.

Khalid was replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker M Abdul Latif in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

“The total river routes of the country were 24,000 kilometres before 1960. But it was decreased to 6,000 kilometres gradually due to negligence and not taking proper plans to protect the rivers,” he said.

The state minister informed the House that the dredging work of 10,000 kilometres river routes of more 178 rivers is underway across the country.

Besides, coordinated steps are being taken through forming taskforce and River Commission and holding inter-ministerial meeting to protect the country’s rivers from pollution and recover from the grabbers.

Tannery was transferred from the capital’s Hajaribagh area and drive of mobile court is being continued to prevent the river pollution through discharging wastages from industries and factories.