Ichamati dredging stalled by legal hassles

Dredging work of the Ichamati river in Pabna town has been badly hampered due to a prolonged legal battle with encroachers, raising concerns over the completion of the Tk 1,554 crore project.

The Water Development Board began the "Rejuvenating River Ichamati" project in June 2024. The three-year scheme includes 110 kilometres of dredging -- 33.772km of the Ichamati river, 44.072km of connecting canals, 20km of the Sutikhali river, and 12.37km of the Varara canal -- to bring water flow back into the Ichamati.

In addition to dredging, the mega project will construct a 10km retaining wall, 10km of drainage, 23 new bridges, 56 ghats for boats, a 10km walkway, and will plant 42,310 trees along the riverbanks for beautification.

According to WDB officials, dredging of the 33km main river was to be carried out first, followed by the other development works. So far, 65 percent of the work has been completed within a year, but dredging in the 5km municipality stretch has been halted due to legal disputes, said Md Mahabub Alam, executive engineer of WDB, Pabna.

A total of 109 cases have been filed in different courts, most of which have led to stay orders preventing progress in the disputed areas, he said.

"Although dredging has begun in the municipality area by avoiding the disputed spots, the work is mostly hampered due to insufficient space for moving excavators," Mahabub added.

During visits to different areas, dredger machines were found stranded on the riverbank.

WDB sources said there were already 73 cases pending in different courts when the dredging began last year. In the past few months, encroachers filed dozens more.

"WDB lawyers are fighting the cases, but we cannot work in the disputed land before court orders are given," Mahabub said.

He also noted that land acquisition for connecting the Ichamati with the Padma river has yet to be completed. "We need to acquire 160 hectares for the connection. The land has been marked, but the acquisition process is still pending," he added.

The 82km Ichamati river originates from the Padma and flows into the Hurasagar in Bera upazila of Pabna. Over the decades, the river has almost disappeared due to rampant encroachment and pollution.

"People of Pabna have long been struggling to save the Ichamati, which is our lifeline. Finally, the much-talked-about project has started. We want proper dredging as per the CS map to rejuvenate the river," said SM Mahabub Alom, an organiser of the Ichamati saving movement.

WDB earlier identified 1,053 illegal structures on the river and removed them. Yet encroachers, who allegedly prepared land documents in their favour over decades, have taken the matter to court.

"Ichamati will be dredged according to the CS map. Once legal issues are settled, we will complete the project," said Shudhangsha Kumar Sarkar, superintendent engineer of WDB and project director of the scheme. "As encroachers have gone to court, we have to fight it out legally."

Land occupiers, however, claimed that a petty-settlement known as petty-CS was made during the British period. "Most occupiers have four records. Those who have legal papers went to court," said Md Maxim, one of the listed encroachers.

"We are not against the river. If our land is needed, it should be acquired as per government rules with proper compensation," he said.