PM calls for coordinated efforts to curb pollution in city lakes

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to step up coordinated efforts to curb pollution and improve the environmental conditions of the lakes in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Niketan and Dhanmondi areas of the capital.

He put emphasis on stopping sewage discharge into the lakes, regular removal of waste, installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and expediting activities of the relevant agencies to this end.

The Prime Minister gave the directives when he was presiding over a meeting at the Cabinet Division conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat this afternoon, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Sujauddowla (Sujon Mahmud).

The meeting discussed in detail the current condition of the lakes in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan areas, sources of pollution and plans for their renovation and development, he said.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of renovation, sludge removal and a pilot project for Dhanmondi Lake undertaken by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

Sujon Mahmud said six primary and six secondary points have been identified as sources and channels through which polluted water and sewage are entering into the lakes.

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A technical committee formed to address the problem presented short-, medium- and long-term recommendations to the Prime Minister to this end, he said.

The meeting stressed blocking the channels through which sewage enters into the lake, installing building-based STPs and conducting a detailed survey of the existing sewerage network.

The Prime Minister also directed measures for conditional collection of sewerage bills in Gulshan-Banani areas and development of drainage systems by creating catchment areas for collecting water, the deputy press secretary said.

To accelerate cleaning activities, the Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to increase the number of mechanical boats engaged in removing floating waste from two to 10.

He also stressed removing sludge accumulated on the lakebeds using floating excavators and conducting regular cleaning operations.

The meeting also stressed the need for ensuring the installation of STPs within the stipulated timeframe in applicable buildings in line with the Dhaka Metropolitan Building Construction Rules, 2025.

The meeting recommended that Dhaka WASA and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to work jointly to identify whether sewage lines from residential and commercial establishments are directly connected to storm water drains or lakes and disconnect such illegal connections, the deputy press secretary said.

Besides, proposals were presented at the meeting to install aerators to increase oxygen levels in the lake water, apply a combination of biological and chemical methods to remove foul odours, and construct a long-term sanitation network.

The meeting was also informed that five special teams comprising 42 personnel have already been deployed to ensure the conservation, cleanliness and overall maintenance of the lakes under RAJUK.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Abdus Salam, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar and other senior officials concerned were present at the meeting.