Modern technology urged for sustainable river management

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings has stressed the need for long-term and sustainable river management instead of recurring short-term spending to prevent river erosion.

At its third meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday, the committee also called for using modern technology and research-based experience in river management.

The committee reviewed ongoing activities, challenges and future plans of the Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO).

It recommended coordinated dredging and sediment management, evaluation of regular and capital dredging, and measures to maintain navigability. It also stressed reducing groundwater use in critical areas, increasing the use of surface water and promoting water reuse.

The committee further called for coordinated river, canal and waterbody excavation and re-excavation, and urged a master plan to address waterlogging, waste and drainage problems in the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) area.

It also stressed resolving more than 5,000 pending audit objections of the BWDB and strengthening its institutional and technical capacity.

-AJM