Govt targets 20,000km canal excavation in 5 years: Anee

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee yesterday said the government has taken a plan to excavate and re-excavate some 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country over the next five years.

He made the disclosure while replying to a starred tabled question by a treasury bench member from Gaibandha-4, Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, in Parliament.

The minister said in line with the government’s election manifesto, canal excavation and re-excavation activities are currently underway in different districts under a nationwide programme for dredging rivers, canals, sanctuaries and other water bodies.

He added that under the government’s 180-day action plan, ongoing projects implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources, Local Government Division and the Ministry of Agriculture will complete excavation and re-excavation of 1,204 kilometres of canals across the country by June 2026.

“In addition, a total of 20,000 kilometres of canals will be excavated and re-excavated over the next five years through both ongoing and new projects,” Anee said.

He informed the House that the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief will re-excavate and rehabilitate around 1,500 kilometres of canals by June 2026 under KABIKHA (food for work), KABITA (Taka for work), and Test Relief programmes.

The minister noted that three canal re-excavation projects are currently being implemented in Gaibandha district under the supervision of the Local Government Division and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief.

“A large-scale project for canal excavation is also under formulation at the Ministry of Water Resources,” he added.