Laukathi and Lohalia at Patuakhali
Rivers narrowing as grabbers active
Grabbers encroached upon Laukathi river flowing through Patuakhali town at two points narrowing the river gragually but the authorities are indifferent to it. Photo: STAR
Laukathi and Lohalia rivers in the district are narrowing at different points as grabbers are building concrete structures on the foreshore. There has been no action to stop land grabbing on the rivers while a proposal sent by the district administration to the land ministry for handing over around 25 acres of foreshore land to BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Transport Authority) four years ago is still waiting approval. BIWTA set up its Patuakhali office in 1975. According to Port Act 1966 and Port Rules 1976, 50-yard foreshore from highest water level should be under the control of BIWTA. But local BIWTA office does not have any authority over the foreshore land as district administration is yet to hand it over to them by fixing boundary. Land department of district administration and BIWTA jointly conducted a survey in September 2006 to fix up the boundary of foreshore land of Laukathi and Lohalia rivers flowing by the district town to the east and north. After a survey from Patuakhali Bridge to 2 No dam in Jainkathi, the joint team measured 25.4 acres of foreshore land and the district administration on August 24 in 2006 sent a proposal to the land ministry for approval to hand over the foreshore land to BIWTA. But the ministry is yet take any step in this regard. During a recent visit to the New Market area, this correspondent saw a number of permanent structures under construction on the grabbed portion of the shore land. "We could not maintain the foreshore land as it is yet to be handed over to us. The river channel is becoming narrow as some influential men are grabbing our land and building structures there," said Mostafizur Rahman, assistant director of Patuakhali BIWTA. Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Md Reaz Ahmed said, "We earlier prepared a map of the foreshore land and sent it to land ministry for approval. We also sent several letters to the authorities concerned demanding immediate steps in this regard. After getting approval we will hand over the foreshore land to BIWTA as soon as possible."
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