Deputy Minister of Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shameem said that the government is working fast to prevent river erosion across the country. And because of the government's action, river erosion has reduced across the country. Due to taking effective measures, the amount of river erosion across the country has decreased from 9,500 hectares to 3,500 hectares in the last 13 years. A project worth Tk 1173 crore from zero point of Padma Bridge to Bilampur in Jazeera is also under process. He is hopeful that the project will start working from July 2023 and be completed by June 2026.
He said these things while talking to reporters after inspecting the project to protect the Mazhirghat zero point area from the breach of the right bank of the Padma river in Jajira upazila of Shariatpur on Saturday.
He was accompanied by Additional Chief Engineer of Water Development Board (Western Region) Ramzan Ali Pramnik, Joint Secretary of Planning Commission Sharmina Nasrin, Deputy Secretary Shamsul Islam, Senior Assistant Secretary Israt Jahan, Additional Chief Engineer of Water Development Board (Faridpur Region) Shahjahan Siraj, Jazira Upazila. Chairman Mubarak Ali Sikder, Member of Awami League Central Science and Technology Sub Committee Zahir Sikder, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board Shariatpur SM Ahsan Habib etc. Senior officials of Khulna Shipyard along with senior officials of Water Development Board were present.
He said that the Padma Bridge was built under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. And because of this bridge, the importance of Shariatpur has increased a lot. 4 years ago there was a river breach in Naria. Thousands of people have lost their homes. Thanks to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there is no more river erosion in Naria. Naria has now become a tourist center due to erosion.
The deputy minister said that the project to protect the two banks of the Kirtinasha River from Naria to Kalkini in Madaripur district through the district headquarters is progressing. If these projects are implemented, river erosion and flooding will be reduced to a large extent. Care must be taken to ensure that the work is done in accordance with quality standards. Any type of negligence, irregularity and corruption in work will not be tolerated.
Enamul Haque Shamim said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thinks about the next generation, that's why she wants to build a Bangladesh with world-class facilities. That is why she also announced the implementation of Deltaplan-2100. And most of the work of this master plan will be implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources. If this master plan is implemented, there will be no problem of river erosion and flooding all over the country. The Ministry of Water Resources and the Water Development Board are working tirelessly to implement this master plan.
Deputy Minister Shamim said that permanent projects are being taken up across the country, in the next few years the people of Bangladesh will be largely saved from flooding and river erosion. And its benefits will be met in a few years. Permanent projects to prevent erosion are being done under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. Every embankment in the coastal region is being widened and raised, afforestation is being done. And in these permanent projects river dredging is being made mandatory and manpower has also been increased for its maintenance.
Later, the deputy minister exchanged views with officials of the water development board and water department at Pani Bhaban in Naria.
