The government cancelled all daily leases of riverbanks used for storing sand and brick for commercial purposes, now that an eviction drive is on to free the country's rivers from occupiers following a binding High Court order. After a meeting of the Task Force on maintaining navigability of major rivers at the ministry of shipping Sunday, the shipping minister, Shajahan Khan, told reporters that 'the yearly and long-term leases will also be cancelled'. He said BIWTA had been asked to reclaim the occupied lands in those areas.

However, the minister said for public interest, the lessees of the ports, motor launch repairing workshops and where vegetables and fishes are loaded and unloaded will be exempted from the eviction decision. To evict the occupiers from the riverbanks local committees headed by the local MP concerned will be formed. Respective DC, SP, representatives of local BIWTA and Water Development Board will remain on the committees. 'If necessary', the minister said, 'afforestation programme will be undertaken on the reclaimed lands.'

Shajahan said the meeting also decided to cancel the lease held by a nephew of former president Iajuddin Ahmed in Shyambazar-Sadarghat area. The meeting was attended by law minister Shafique Ahmed, land minister Rezaul Karim Hira, water resources minister Ramesh Chandra Sen and state minister for forest and environment Hasan Mahmud. Earlier, the High Court had wanted to know the shipping ministry's decision regarding the court's 12-point order that include cancelling long, short and medium-term leases on riverbanks to save the rivers from death throes inflicted by voracious grabbers. In the wake of the High Court order, a seven-member committee was formed Sunday to formulate plans for eviction from the riverbanks and make recommendations.

The committee will submit its report within December 15. Three MPs from Dhaka city and senior officials of the shipping ministry, law ministry, land ministry, water resources ministry, forest and environment ministry will be on the committee. The shipping minister said from now on it would require prior permission from his ministry to build any bridge over any river. And the future bridges must be constructed 25 feet above the level of water. In Dhaka and its adjacent areas those bridges which are lower than 25-foot height from the water levels will be demolished. In a further step the government decided to introduce 'water bus' service around the capital city to ease the transport problem and associated traffic jams.

-New Age