60 river dredging projects awaiting approval
Although some dredging projects have been undertaken in 60 new important rivers of the country, they have been lying in the Planning Commission and Ministry of Shipping for 4 years. Due to non-allocation of necessary funds, it will not be possible to remove 380 lakh cubic meters or 7.562 crore tonnes of sand from 82 waterways this year. In the previous year, the amount was 6.58 crore tons. As a result, it has been reported that it will not be possible to implement the election pledge of the government to make 10,000 km of waterways navigable.
According to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) sources, a body controlled by the Ministry of Shipping.
According to sources, by this time of the year (2021-2022) to remove 520 lakh cubic meters or 10.346 crore tons (1 cubic meter = 1.99 tons) of silt from 92 waterways of the country as per the demand received from waterway users, institutions and MPs. Will be About Tk. 920 crore is required for this. But the annual allocation was only Tk. 215 crore. With this money, it is possible to remove 140 million cubic meters and 27 million tons of sand from 19-20 waterways of the country. Despite the limited budget, it will not be possible to dredge or remove 380 lakh cubic meters or 8.562 crore tons of sand from the remaining 82 waterways.
In this regard, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told Barta24.com, "We have been working on a new challenge (Corona pandemic) for several years now." We, like many countries in the world, are facing many problems to face this challenge. Even then we are in a better position than many countries. However, it is true that like many projects in the country, we and many projects are waiting for approval. Even then, we are trying to get the project approved in a short time. And we are working to get the approval of the Planning Commission.
Regarding the low allocation for dredging, he said that at present importance is being given to important and vital projects. Allocations are being made accordingly. However, he said that if the situation in the country improves, the necessary allocation will be given to speed up the work of the project.
According to a recent meeting of the Standing Committee on the Ministry of Shipping, four important projects are awaiting the approval of the Planning Commission. These are:-
Project titled 'Development and Restoration of Navigability of Ghorautra of Mithamin Upazila, part of Bolai-Srigang River and part of Dhanu River of Itna Upazila, Namakura River and part of Dhaleshwari River of Ashtagram Upazila'.
The project titled 'Ensuring river flow in dry season, development of waterways and flood management to restore the flow of Jinai, Ghaghat, Banshi and Nagda rivers'.
Project titled ‘Development and Restoration of Navigability through Excavation of Sangu, Matamuhuri River and Rangamati-Thegamukh Waterways’ and Project on Development of Navigability through Dredging from Raipara to Bhat Char of Meghna (Upper) River adjacent to Cumilla Economic Zone.
In the Ministry of Shipping -
Project entitled 'Development and Restoration of Navigability of Gumti River', Project 'Development of Naval Communication with Chattogram-Hatia to Bhasan Char' Integrated River Management (18 Rivers), In Madaripur district, Kumar, Lower Kumar and Upper Kumar River Navigability Development and Restoration Project , Feasibility Study for Agriculture and Landing Facilities., Rivers of Rivers in the Chattogram Hill Tracts Feasibility study aimed at improving navigability and landing facilities.
According to sources, in order to conserve the river, in the fiscal year 2020-21, according to the letter of the Minister, MP, local representatives and the demand of various organizations, it was necessary to remove 480 million cubic meters or 9.552 million tons of silt from 89 waterways. But with an allocation of Tk 206.22 crore in the last financial year, it has been possible to remove 150 million cubic meters or 2.985 crore tonnes of silt from only 22 waterways. Despite the demand at that time, dredging of 330 lakh cubic meters or 6.567 crore tons of 67 waterways was not possible. In the last financial year, Tk. 700 crore was required for dredging.
BIWTA Chief Engineer (Dredging) Abdul Matin told Barta24.com, "We are not able to provide our full service due to lack of necessary allocation." Our ongoing work will not be completed on time. Although there is a demand for dredging in different rivers of the country, we are not able to start that work. As a result, river excavation work is being hampered.