By 2023, the residents of the posh areas of the capital should have effective sewage management in their homes on their own initiative which they do not at the moment.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam made the comment while addressing the last day of the two-day workshop titled "Safe Sewage Management: What We Should Do" organized at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Nagar Bhaban at Gulshan-2 in the capital on Monday.
At the same time, he said, "Lakes are polluted, canals are polluted and sewage waste falls into canals and lakes through ordinary sewers. This is a huge health risk for the people of the capital. It cannot be allowed to continue.”
At the time, the mayor warned that if a sewage connection is found leading to a canal or surface drain after a certain period of time, it will be shut down by the city corporation.
He added that the canals under DNCC will be transformed into scenic and modern canals by 2024. One of the major challenges to do this is waste management. It has to be done by creating public awareness.
The government as well as non-governmental organizations should be involved in the disposal of sewage. It is possible to solve this problem with the joint efforts of all, he added.
“We have come to know about modern waste management through panel discussions of 15 organizations on their state-of-the-art technology in the workshop,” said the mayor.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman was present as the chief guest on the occasion. At the beginning of the event, the DNCC Mayor visited the stalls with the chief guest and took part in the panel discussion.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest said, "Looking at the stalls, I think we can save the environment of Dhaka city by managing safe waste through modern process. Those who will manage waste as their own responsibility, financial incentives will be considered for them."
Journalist Mithila Farzana also participated in the panel discussion. Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Md Mostafa Kamal, UNICEF Head Zaid Jurji, RAJUK Chairman ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, FBCCI President Md Jasim Uddin, DNCC Chief Executive Officer Md Selim Reza and other senior officials and councilors were present at the occasion.