BSS-03 RCC to conserve natural water bodies in Rajshahi city

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ZCZC

BSS-03

POND-CONSERVATION (with picture)

RCC to conserve natural water bodies in Rajshahi city

RAJSHAHI, June 6, 2018 (BSS) – Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) will
conserve 16 natural water bodies through bringing those under its
jurisdiction to address the adverse impact of climate change.

RCC has adopted a Taka 271.63-crore project. The scheme intends to
retain its surface water resources for protecting the environment from
further degradation.

The city corporation has undertaken the uplift project titled “Natural
Water Bodies Conservation and Development in Rajshahi City”.

City Mayor Musaddeque Hossain Bulbul revealed this while visiting
development and beautification works of a pond in the city yesterday.

The development activities are being implemented with financial support
of a project titled “Sustainable Development of Rajshahi City through the
Improvement and Conservation of Social, Cultural, Environmental and Heritage
Infrastructures”.

Mayor Bulbul said the ponds will be preserved and lands will be acquired
for the purpose. None would be allowed to fill up the ponds.

The project has provision of developing mini amusement park beside each
of the ponds. Embankments of the ponds will be renovated with retaining wall
alongside necessary excavation and re-excavation.

In addition to bench and walkway, concrete stair will be constructed in
all the developed ponds to make those attractive among the nearby people and
facilitate them to enjoy and use those suitably.

Bulbul said there were 729 ponds and canals in the metropolis in 2002,
but the figure has come down to 293 at present due to indiscriminate earth-
dumping and unplanned urbanization.

He said dependence on groundwater has been increasing for ensuring of
supply water to the city dwellers causing unusual lowering of groundwater
table for the last couple of years.

He added “We have no way but to conserve the surface water resources to
make the groundwater table intact,” he opined.

Besides, he viewed that the developed water bodies will help the fire
fighters and others concerned to extinguish any fire incident in the
metropolis.

BSS/AH/SA/ 1000 HRS