Posted on December 5, 2022
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authourity (BIWTA) has decided to dredge around 20 rivers including the Padma River in Barisal region to increase the navigalibity of the rivers.
The authorities took the decision as the water depth of the main channel of the Padma River at Mawa point dropped from 10-12 feet to 3-4 feet due to increasing number of shoals following the construction of the Padma Bridge.
Additionally, the flow of the river is obstructed due to various reasons including the installation of culverts, electricity poles and siltation forcing several rivers of Barisal region to lose navigability.
Abdul Matin Sarkar, additional director Marine Management and Conservation Division of BIWTA, disclosed the information on Sunday afternoon while talking to journalists about the river dredging plan on current dry winter season at the conference room of Barisal sadar upazila parishad.
At that time, he said that upon completing a survey BIWTA has decided to dredge three million cubic meters of 20 rivers at 47 points of twelve routes.
Dhaka Tribune
A fund of Tk12-15 cores has already been allocated for this. Excavation will be done with 17 dredger machines and would be completed by next February, the BIWTA official added.
Saidur Rahman Rintu, AL Sadar upazila chairman and vice president of Barisal Launch Owners Association, said that if dredging is not done immediately, then the rivers will rapidly lose their navigability. In this situation, the operation of water transports would have to be stopped.
“We have already sent a letter to the concerned authorities for dredging in various routes. If the dredging could not be done immediately, then operation of water transport will come under severe threats,” he added.
Barisal River Port Officer Abdur Razzak, expressing his solidarity with the water transport owners, said Barisal river port would become unusable, risky and difficult if the dredging could not be done immediately.
Efforts are being made to prevent throwing the dredged sediments into the water again. Arrangements have also been taken to engage two new dredging machines for removing the dredged sediments.
Besides, initiatives have been taken to keep the removed shoals at different points on the river bank, Barisal river port official added.
