6 canals are being excavated to build Blue Network around Dhaka city: Rizwana

Excavation of six canals is going on to build a Blue Network around Dhaka city, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today (17 April).

"A total of 19 canals will be made pollution and encroachment-free," Rizwana said.

"Besides, four rivers around the capital, including Balu, Shitalakkhya, Buriganga and Turag will be freed from pollution and encroachment," Rizwana added.

The adviser made the remarks after holding a meeting with representatives from the World Bank, including its Global Partner for Water and Practice Manager for South Asia Sumila Gulyani at the conference room of Pani Bhaban in the capital.

"What makes me happy is that the Water Development Board is coming towards the communities. They can influence the people if they respond to any news promptly and talk to the people directly. This increases their reliability and people start to believe them if they do this. I'm working diligently to make it happen," Rizwana further said.

During the meeting, the environment adviser asked for World Bank's support to make the four rivers around Dhaka city pollution and encroachment-free.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Rizwana said, "The first thing to do is to become reliable to the people. This should be the first agenda. Coordination is must among an engineer and a social worker during implementation of a project so that the government officials can empathise with the people during emergencies."

"We have three main problems- flood and erosion, scarcity of water for irrigation and accumulation of silt," Rizwana added.

While talking to reporters, Adviser Rizwana urged the concerned authorities to take up projects after considering these problems.

Senior government officials, including Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Nazmul Ahsan, were present during the meeting.