Editorial
Obstructive bridge on Turag
Those responsible should be held to account
THE report that a bailey bridge with inadequate height, that would obstruct river traffic, is being constructed on the Turag is disturbing and rather inexplicable too. This is happening despite no fewer than 14 letters of complaint being sent to the LGED-- which is building the bridge-- by the BIWTA, the agency in charge of river traffic.
The bridge is being built purportedly to connect a housing project of government officials with the Tongi-Ashulia bypass. Interestingly enough, the project itself is reportedly not approved by Rajuk.
It is really difficult to comprehend how a government department like LGED could embark on a scheme that is going to directly obstruct river traffic and will also scuttle the plan to introduce circular waterways around the city. Obviously, the fact of hindering movement of river vessels of certain height along the Turag will have a highly negative impact on trade and commerce and the environment. The LGED is building the bridge at a time when renewed emphasis is being placed on clearing the rivers of all sorts of encroachments and obstructions. An LGED official has said that removing the encroachments is a matter of greater priority. However, the point that he has missed is that a bailey bridge with a height of only 4 feet is itself an encroachment. His second argument that the bailey bridge is not a permanent structure is also far from convincing. Obviously, the government should not invest in a project that might have to be dismantled in the near future.
The LGED is acting unilaterally, showing no regard for the BIWTA's concern. This is definitely not desirable, particularly when the drawbacks of building a bailey bridge have been so clearly pointed out by the BIWTA. Such lack of coordination or mutual understanding among the government agencies often leads to wastage of time and money.
The bailey bridge will serve a few people while causing so much trouble to the people in general. It is indeed illustrative of how government officials bend rules and abuse power to achieve their own selfish goals. Here it did not occur to them, or they were defiant enough to dismiss public interest rather lightly, that obstructing river traffic was a clear violation of the law.
The decision makers have to look into the matter keeping public interest in their minds. Corrective steps have to be taken immediately.
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