Bangla Press desk : Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, has said the government is working on a priority basis to control erosion along the Teesta River.
She noted that out of the 45 kilometres of the most erosion-prone areas of the Teesta, riverbank protection work is already underway along 19 kilometres, while funding has been secured for the remaining 26 kilometres — construction on which will begin soon.
She made the remarks on Tuesday while briefing the media during her visit to the ongoing riverbank protection works near Gharialdanga Khitabkha Government Primary School in Rajarhat upazila of Kurigram, read a press release.
Rizwana mentioned that the demand for a permanent embankment to control Teesta erosion is legitimate, but such a project requires long-term planning and time for implementation.
In response to questions from journalists, the Advisor affirmed that the Teesta water-sharing treaty is a rightful demand of the people of Bangladesh. The government is pursuing this treaty in accordance with international law.
She also informed that five public hearings have already been held as part of the formulation of the Teesta Master Plan, with participation from both local and international experts. Feedback and recommendations from these hearings have been forwarded to the relevant ministries, and the plan will be finalized based on a consensus of expert opinions.
Among those present during the visit were Md Enayet Ullah, Director General of the Bangladesh Water Development Board; Md Mahbubur Rahman, Chief Engineer, Rangpur BWDB, Nusrat Sultana, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Superintendent of Police, Kurigram, Md. Subedar Islam, Conservator of Forests, Rangpur Region, Nur Alam, Director General, Department of Environment, Md Rakibul Islam, Executive Engineer, Kurigram BWDB.
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