Transparency International Bangladesh and several other organisations on Monday urged the government to ensure transparency and accountability in saving rivers and water bodies from pollution and encroachment.
Speaking at a human chain, the forum leaders in a 9-point demand asked for an accurate demarcation of the rivers Buriganga, Shityalakhya, Turag, Balu and Dhaleswari and setting up pillars.
TIB, Bangladesh Water Integrity Network, Climate Finance Governance Network, Bangladesh Poribesh Andalan, Bangladesh Water Partnership, NGO Forum for Public Health jointly formed the human chain in front of National Press Club to mark the World Water Day 2013.
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said that a powerful group was using political shelter to illegally grab rivers, lakes, water bodies and choking navigability of the rivers.
Political influence and lack of transparency of government policies are the major factors behind the illegal grabbing of water bodies, he said.
The government is making walk ways and installing pillars without evicting illegal grabbers from the Buriganga, Shityalakhya, Balu, Turag and Dhaleswari, he said.
Iftekharuzzaman urged the government to ensure transparency and accountability in saving rivers and water bodies from pollution and encroachment.
He said though National Water Policy 1999 emphasised on combined use of surface water, in the country ground water is only used even which is a threat for the future.
He said the government needs to take initiative to implement the National Water Policy 1999 to save water resources of the country and ensure proper management of water resources.
He also called on the government to relocate the proposed Rampal power plant to save the Sundarban wildlife and biodiversity.
Iftekharuzzaman also said the government to identify the perpetrators who are involved in grabbing and ensure their punishment.
Source: New Age
