HC orders action plan for Rangpur Shyamasundari Canal restoration

The High Court has issued a rule asking the respondents to explain why their failure to protect the historic Shyamasundari Canal in Rangpur from pollution and encroachment should not be declared unconstitutional and unlawful. 

The order was issued by the HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury today following a preliminary hearing of a public interest litigation filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), according to a press release.

The court also ordered preparation of an action plan to restore the canal to its original state by determining its boundaries, removing encroachers, identifying pollution sources, and ensuring proper maintenance. The plan must be submitted within three months.

To ensure compliance, the HC instructed key officials, including the deputy commissioner of Rangpur, the administrator of Rangpur City Corporation, the executive engineer of the Rangpur Water Development Board, and the director of the Rangpur Department of Environment, to submit a report on the implementation.

Earlier on Sunday, Bela sent a letter demanding the cancellation of a controversial decision to build a road through Osmani Udyan in Dhaka and construct a 20-storey car parking facility within the park. The letter, addressed to key government officials, called for an immediate halt to any activities that encroach on the park's open spaces, reads a separate release.

HC rule regarding Rangpur Canal 

The Shyamasundari Canal is a historic waterway covering about 16 sq km. It flows from the Ghagat River in Kellabanda Mouza, passing through several areas before rejoining the Ghagat River. 

It has been severely encroached upon, with illegal structures blocking its natural flow. Its water has been polluted by household waste, plastic, and sewage. This has caused fish and aquatic life to disappear, forcing local farmers and fishermen to abandon their professions.

Bela filed the litigation to protect the canal, recognising it as a crucial drainage channel for the city. The respondents in the petition include senior government officials and departments responsible for the canal's protection.

The court questioned why instructions should not be given to determine the canal's boundaries based on the CS survey and its original flow, to protect the rights of local residents who rely on the canal for farming and fishing, and to restore the canal by removing encroachers and controlling pollution. 

The court also asked why the canal should not be restored to its previous state and properly preserved. 

Bela on Osmani Uddyan construction 

Bela has called upon the authorities to consult urban planners and remove any existing structures to ensure that the park remains open to the public. 

The letter follows a recent report by a national newspaper, which stated that the Ministry of Public Administration had decided to build a road through Osmani Uddyan from Fulbaria Phoenix Road to Abdul Gani Road, along with a car parking facility on park land. This project aims to ease traffic flow toward the Secretariat.

The letter was sent to the secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, the secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, the secretary of the Local Government Division, the administrator of Dhaka South, the chairman of Rajuk, the chief engineer of the Public Works Department, and the chief urban planner of Rajuk.