The government has dredged 1600 kilometers rover routes in the last 10 years raising the total river routes to 7,600 kilometers from 6,000 kilometers, says State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
“The total river routes of the country were 24,000 kilometers before 1960. But it was decreased to 6,000 kilometers gradually due to negligence and not taking proper plans to protect the rivers,” he told parliament in reply to a query question from lawmaker M Abdul Latif on Sunday (Jun 23), reports BSS.
Khalid said that the dredging work of 10,000 kilometers river routes of more 178 rivers is underway across the country.
Besides, coordinated steps are being taken through forming taskforce and River Commission and holding inter-ministerial meeting to protect the country’s rivers from pollution and recover from the grabbers.
Tannery was transferred from the capital’s Hajaribagh area and drive of mobile court is being continued to prevent the river pollution through discharging wastages from industries and factories.