Posted on October 11, 2016
To maintain smooth waterways communication, the government is going to implement a big project with a cost of Tk 9,56,834 crore for dredging and river training. The project aims for improving navigability and augmenting dry season flow in the distributaries with capital dredging and river training works (RTW) and other interventions.
Experts, for long, suggesting such a comprehensive plan for capital dredging and sustainable river management in Bangladesh, to cope with future challenges and maintaining navigability in river routes in the country. UNB adds: the government has planned to dredge 2100 kilometers of 24 major rivers alongside 690 kilometers river training across country over the next 15 years, aiming to increase and maintain their navigability, reports UNB.
A feasibility study titled ‘Feasibility Study of Capital Dredging and Sustainable River Management in Bangladesh’ came up with the suggestion of the river training and dredging. The study was conducted under a ‘Capital (pilot) dredging of River system in Bangladesh’ project being implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources. An official at he Water Resources Ministry said, “An estimated amount of cost of Tk 9,56,834 crore will require for conducting such dredging works.”
The official who wished not to be named said the 24 rivers included are the Padma, Ganga, Brahmaputra-Jamuna, Old Brahmaputra, Meghna (upper), Meghna (lower), Karnaphuli, Attrai, Ghaghot, Teesta, Dudhkumar, Dharla, Hurasagar, Teetas, Tongi Khal, Shitalakshya, Juri, Dhonu, Dhalai, Bhogai Kongso, Monu, Dakatia, Madaripur Bill Route and Ghoshiakhali. In the course of time, the Water Resources Ministry official said, there will be changes in the morphology and various social and environmental issues for conducting such dredging. So, there is also a need to conduct a detailed engineering study before implementing a project in light of this survey, he said.
As per the Prime Minister’s desire, a plan has been taken to conduct capital dredging and river management activities in the country’s major rivers and some 22 kilometers of dredging in the Jamuna River has been completed at the upstream and downstream of Sirajganj hard point and in Nolinbazar area under Bhuapur upazila of Tangail.
Following the directives from the Prime Minister’s Office, a national coordination committee on dredging has been formed and it has been asked to formulate a master plan for conducting dredging in the country’s all the rivers. Currently, this is under process and the next steps would be undertaken following the formulation of the master plan.
Another official told the news agency that a draft project proposal is under process at the Water Resources Ministry to reshape countrywide embankments and re excavation of rivers and canals under a proposed project titled ‘Rehabilitation of Embankments & Re-excavation of Rivers/Khals’ at an estimated cost of Tk 1905.91 crore. Under the project, there is a plan to re-excavate some 7,456 kilometers of rivers and canals while plan is also there to conduct dredging alongside protecting some 80 kilometer riverbanks across the country under a project named ‘Protection of Bangladesh’s river banks.”
Source: Newstoday
