Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed agencies to intensify coordinated action against pollution in the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Niketan and Dhanmondi lakes and to improve their environment. Chairing a meeting in the Cabinet Division conference room at the Secretariat on Thursday afternoon, he stressed stopping sewage from entering the lakes, regular waste removal, installing sewage treatment plants (STPs) and speeding up the work of the bodies involved.

Deputy press secretary Sujauddaula Sujan Mahmud said the meeting reviewed the present state of the Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan lakes, the sources of their pollution and plans for restoration, as well as progress on Dhaka South City Corporation's renovation of Dhanmondi Lake, sludge removal and a pilot project.

Six primary and six secondary points through which sewage and polluted water enter Gulshan Lake have been identified. A technical committee presented short-, medium- and long-term recommendations: closing the sewage inlets, installing building-based STPs and surveying the existing sewerage network in detail. Conditional collection of sewerage bills in Gulshan-Banani and the creation of catchment areas to improve drainage were also directed.

To speed up cleaning, the prime minister ordered the number of mechanical boats removing floating waste raised from two to ten, and called for floating excavators to clear sludge from the lake beds and for regular cleaning. The meeting also emphasised that buildings covered by the Dhaka Metropolitan Building Rules 2025 must install STPs within the set time.

Dhaka WASA and Dhaka North City Corporation were asked to work together to identify homes and commercial buildings whose sewer lines run straight into storm drains or the lakes, and to cut off illegal connections. Proposals to install aerators to raise oxygen levels, to combine biological and chemical treatment against odour, and to build a long-term sanitation network were tabled. Five special teams of 42 people are already assigned to the conservation and cleaning of lakes under RAJUK.

Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam, Dhaka South administrator Md Abdus Salam, Dhaka North administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan, the prime minister's principal secretary A B M Abdus Sattar and other senior officials attended.

Source: Prothom Alo