Demarcation of Shyamasundari canal begins in Rangpur

461

RANGPUR, Oct 23, 2019 (BSS) – Demarcation of the Shyamasundari canal began
today to recover illegally occupied lands from encroacher alongside carrying
out re-excavation works for restoring flow of water in the canal.

Rangpur City Corporation, divisional and district administrations, Rangpur
Metropolitan Police (RpMP) and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)
jointly launched the demarcation work ceremonially by setting up pillars at
check post area in the city.

Divisional Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam, Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar
Rahman Mostafa, Deputy Commissioner Md. Asib Ahsan, District Council Chairman
Advocate Chhafia Khanom, Additional Police Commissioner of RpMP Abu Sufian,
Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Crile of BWDB Harun-Ar-Rashid, its Sub-
divisional Engineer Mahbubur Rahman and other officials concerned were
present.

The demarcation work as part of the Development Mega Plan was adopted for
the Shyamasundari canal for ensuring normal flow of water.

The government will provide funds through BWDB for implementation of the
Mega Plan for evacuation of illegal structures from both sides of the canal
by evicting some 482 illegal encroachers for smooth development of the canal.

According to officials, the historical 16-km long Shyamasundari Canal with
23 to 90 feet width was dug some 130 years back in 1890 to save the people of
Rangpur town from deadly mosquito- and water-borne diseases.

The then King of Dimla Empire Janki Ballov Sen then dug the canal and
named it after his mother Shyamasundari from entry point of the river Ghaghot
in CO Bazar area to the Khoksha Ghaghot point and the canal flowed through
the mid-line of Rangpur city.

The divisional commissioner sought cooperation of all authorities
concerned and the people for smooth development of the canal as it is being
considered as the life-line of Rangpur city.