Govt plans to excavate 20,000km of canals in 5 yrs: Water Resources Minister

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne on Thursday said the government has undertaken a plan to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the excavation work of Jamaldi Canal in Hosendi union under Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj district in the morning.

The minister said canal excavation activities have already begun in several districts as part of the government’s broader plan to improve water management, agriculture and rural economy.

Speaking at the event, he said canal excavation was one of the programmes introduced by late President Ziaur Rahman, adding that the initiative has now been relaunched under the leadership of Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in line with electoral commitments.

“Canal excavation is creating a new awakening. It is increasing public engagement, generating employment opportunities, strengthening the rural economy and contributing to agricultural and environmental development,” he said.

Regarding obstacles to canal excavation, the minister said infrastructural and legal complications in certain areas would be resolved through due legal process.

Later, the minister visited the Kajli River and expressed dissatisfaction over industrial waste being dumped in it.

Munshiganj-3 lawmaker Kamruzzaman Ratan, Acting Deputy Commissioner Mousumi Mahbub, Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Menhajul Alam PPM, Gazaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahmudul Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) Md Hasan Ali and Upazila Engineer Samiul Arefin, among others, were present at the programme.

MH/AM