The recreational places to spend quality time with family members and children are shrinking in the capital Dhaka due to gradual encroachment of open spaces, including parks and playgrounds.
As a result, most of the children and family members have to spend their leisure time, staying at home and children are growing up with various difficulties without physical activities like sports.
In view of this situation, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has undertaken a project titled ‘Construction and installation of demarcation pillar, walkway, bank protection, jetty with allied work on evicted foreshore land of the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shityalakha rivers.’
The BIWTA has already constructed three eco-parks and completed work of 31km walkways out of total 52km around the city rivers, where thousands of city dwellers gather every day to take fresh air and spend quality time with their family members.
However, some visitors demanded that the department concerned increase the facilities like toilet, lighting, adequate sitting arrangements and deployment of police to maintain security.
“We never imagine that we could enjoy the river sight as it was encroached by some vested quarters. The BIWTA has done a tremendous job and we are now enjoying the river sight very closely. Besides, we are taking fresh air and walking alongside the river on beautiful walkways,” Nurul Islam, a local resident, told this correspondent.
The project involving Tk 848.55 crore was taken in 2018 with a target to implement it by June 2022, but later it was revised on December 27, 2021 by increasing its estimated cost of Tk 1,181.10 crore. Ii is now scheduled to completed in June 2023.
Later, the project period extended further, saying no lost time extension for one year till June 2024, while the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday extended the project period until June 2025 by increasing estimated cost of Tk 1,275.96 crore.
According to sources, completion of the project is being delayed due to various obstacles created by some influential groups and legal complexities.
The main objective of the project is to protect the river banks from encroachment by constructing walkways, eco-parks and tree plantation to beautify the river sites, project director Engr Shahnawaz Kabir told this correspondent on Tuesday.
“At least 50,000 people are gathering in different places alongside the BIWTA’s developed places to enjoy the river sight daily. People are also visiting with their children at different eco-parks constructed near the river banks,” he said.
Kabir also said that a total of 50,000 species of trees will be planted alongside the walkways to attract tourists and protect the environment. “We have already planted 15,000 saplings,” he added.
The BIWTA has demolished a total of 30,000 illegal establishments and freed 986 acres of foreshore lands till date since 2010.
Three eco-parks in Tongi River Port area, Mirpur Boro Bazar and Haziganj in Narayanganj have already been set up. Of the eco-parks, Tongi River Port area and Mirpur Boro Bazar are leased out for Tk 26 lakh and Tk 44 lakh respectively.
