The re-demarcation of the Turag River has been suspended on undisclosed grounds, making it easy for encroachers to grab more riverbed and riverbank lands.
In defiance of the High Court order and a directive of the prime minister, grabbers are constructing structures on the riverbank lands illegally, including industries, markets, shops, garages, restaurants and educational institutions. The release of chemical wastes from the industries in the river continues unabated.
Dr Md Samsuddoha Khandaker, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), told the Dhaka Tribune in February this year that encroachment was reducing the river to a canal.
He said erecting demarcation pillars in the middle of the river was a wrong step, adding that further demarcation would be done.
In April 2011, Gazipur district administration wrongly demarcated the river by erecting pillars at low-water mark, thus excluding much of the riverbed.
BIWTA sources said around 600 acres of riverbank lands had been grabbed from Tongi to Aminbazar.
A range of establishments have been erected in Gabtoli, Borobazar, Kotbari, Harirampur, Jahanabad, Golartek, Lalpara, Diabari, Sinnirtek, Jagannathbad - eastern part of the river adjacent to Mirpur – and Eskabed, Golbari, Kanundia -western side of the river under Harirampur union.
A river comprises a bed, foreshores and banks, according to a High Court verdict.
After the wrong demarcation in 2011, Gazipur district administration, the BIWTA and land officials have so far taken a good number of re-demarcation attempts but it is yet to be done because the authorities choose not to be harsh with grabbers, BIWTA sources said.
Attempts have also been made by the district administration, the BIWTA, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and other government bodies to recover occupied lands but they could not make much progress in the face of the strong influence of grabbers.
On July 14 this year, the Supreme Court cleared the way for removing all structures, excluding those set up by the government to serve public interests, erected on the banks of four rivers encircling Dhaka - Shitalakhya, Balu, Turag and Buriganga.
After turning down five review petitions, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld its previous verdict. The High Court issued similar orders several times in the past but those were not complied with.
On October 13, Gazipur district administration, the BIWTA, the BWDB teamed up to carry out eviction drives and complete the demarcation process of Turag but they halted operations after a week without giving any exact reasons.
Samsuddoha yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune a survey was underway and re-demarcation would follow once the survey ended.
Seeking anonymity, a BIWTA official said: “The whole river will not be re-demarcated. The process will only concern the pillars erected in wrong places.”
Earlier in 2009, the High Court ordered to remove all illegal structures and erect demarcation pillars in accordance with the CS and RS survey. The pillars were to be placed 150 feet away from the river slope.
In November 2012, the High Court directed the government to stop sand trades on the banks of the rivers surrounding the capital.
In another order, the High Court on June 25, 2009, directed the BIWTA to safeguard Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya Rivers against encroachment and pollution.
