KPI in Magura Town
WDB finally turns to its security cell for protection
After failed attempts to get 'sufficient cooperation' from police and civil administrations to remove the structure built in the restricted land adjacent to Nabaganga Regulator, Water Development Board (WDB) authorities in Magura have sought help of the board's Security Cell for its protection.
Magura WDB authorities on Thursday sent a letter to the chief of the Security Cell of WDB in Dhaka, seeking manpower for security of the four-vent regulator, a key point installation (KPI) near Dhaka Road bus stand in Magura town on Magura-Dhaka highway, WDB officials said.
"Construction of any structure within 150 metres of the KPI will lead to its collapse, eventually disrupting business between Benapole land port and capital Dhaka. Communication between Dhaka and 10 south-western districts will collapse too," reads the letter signed by Mohammad Lutfur Rahman, executive engineer of WDB in Magura.
Besides, it will seriously affect cultivation on about three thousand hectares of land adjacent to the Nabaganga River, goes the letter that also requested the chief of the Security Cell of WDB to seek home ministry's intervention in this regard.
In late September, Rajab Ali Majnu, an influential businessman in Magura town, also known as an adherent of ruling Awami League, constructed a tin-shed structure in the restricted area adjacent to Nabaganga Regulator and then continued earth filling work there, ignoring two notices served by the WDB officials on October 1 and October 2.
WDB authorities filed a case with Magura Sadar police station on October 6, accusing Majnu of violating the KPI Act that does not allow any structure within 150 metres of such installation.
As police did not record the case, Mohammad Faruk Bhuyan, the then executive engineer of Magura WDB, submitted a petition to the deputy commissioner (DC) of Magura on October 23.
On November 5, a team led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC -- Revenue) Goutam Chandra Pal and Magura Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Tabibur Rahman measured the land but the team is yet to submit the measurement report to the DC, said sources in the DC office and WDB.
On contact, Mohammad Matiur Rahman, section officer of the WDB in Magura, said, "We have sent the letter to the security directorate as police did not record the case even after two months of its filing and the district administration is dilly-dallying in taking action against the illegal construction and land grabbing."
Asked about the matter, ADC Goutam Chandra Pal said, "Preparation of the land measurement report is being delayed because the UNO is examining the land related papers thoroughly as there are some legal complications. However, we have asked the alleged grabber not to run any construction work there until the issue is settled."
Built in 1962 to facilitate the cultivation on about three thousand hectares of land on both banks of the Nabaganga River, the regulator is also the gateway to 10 south-western districts from the capital, WDB officials said.
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