Dhaka: The Ministry of Water Resources will soon transfer the responsibility of the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) embankment project to the city corporations. This move is aimed at improving drainage management and reducing persistent waterlogging in the area.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee made the announcement after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat. The minister highlighted that despite the completion of a development project initiated in 2016, waterlogging remains a significant issue in the DND area.
Anee explained that representatives from various government bodies, including the Water Resources Ministry, Local Government Ministry, Dhaka and Narayanganj city corporations, Narayanganj deputy commissioner's office, and experts, participated in the meeting. They discussed the long-standing waterlogging problem in the DND embankment area and explored potential solutions.
The decision was made to hand over the DND embankment project from the Water Resources Ministry to the Dhaka and Narayanganj city corporations. Most of the DND embankment area falls under the jurisdictions of these city corporations. Anee expressed optimism that coordinated efforts by all agencies would help address waterlogging and improve waste management.
Additionally, the government plans to undertake another project to develop around 30 kilometres of new drainage infrastructure to enhance the drainage system further. Anee stated that work on this project would commence soon to provide benefits to the public promptly, with an expected completion of the handover process within two weeks.
State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, RAJUK Chairman Engineer Md Riazul Islam, and Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan were among those present at the meeting.