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Bhuiyan directs WASA to reclaim encroached canals in Dhaka city

11/1/2005

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan directed Monday Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authorities (WASA) to initiate a drive immediately for reclaiming the encroached canals of the capital city, reports UNB.
"From tomorrow (Tuesday), start evicting those who are illegally in possession of land by encroaching on the canals in the city," the minister told WASA Managing Director Kazi Ali Azam while presiding over a meeting at the Secretariat.
The meeting was held to discuss the progress of implementation of the projects under the ministry over the last three months.
Bhuiyan also asked the WASA to undertake projects with its own money so that the reclaimed canals are not dispossessed again.
Upon the inquiry by the minister about WASA's production of bottled water, Kazi Ali Azam informed the meeting that it was expected to begin in January. Bhuiyan emphasised on keeping of the pledge to start production in January 2006.
At the meeting, heads of different bodies under the ministry apprised on the progress of the projects under their respective departments over the first three months of the current fiscal year ending in September.
The minister urged the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to work relentlessly over next three months to complete their works. He also directed the LGED to ensure timeliness and effectiveness of tenders.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the slow progress of Chittagong WASA in implementing projects, the minister admitted there existed a real crisis of water in Chittagong city.