The government has launched a sustainable initiative to clean up the Ramchandrapur canal in Dhaka, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Referring to the canal as “the lifeline of the area,” she emphasized the importance of keeping it pollution-free.

She made these remarks on Saturday (June 21) while speaking to the media after visiting the cleanup operations underway in Adabor’s Ramchandrapur canal.

Adviser Rizwana Hasan said, “A long-term action plan is being prepared to ensure the canal stays clean. For at least a year, we must continue the work with the participation of local residents. This will help people realize how a clean canal looks and why it’s important to preserve it.”

She added, “When people see the beauty of a restored canal, they’ll feel inspired to protect it. And if we don’t involve the local community, it will never be sustainable.”

The water resources Adviser also said, “We need to ensure that household waste is not dumped into the canal. That’s why dustbins have been provided for residents to dispose of their trash properly.”

Adviser Rizwana Hasan added, “We’ve already started cleanup and pollution control efforts for both Ramchandrapur and Subhadya canals. But the public also needs to stay aware.”

She also said that an integrated development plan for Ramchandrapur canal is under consideration, which would include embankment work, dredging, waste management, sewage treatment, and beautification.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz was present during the visit.

The cleanup effort is being conducted by the volunteer group Footsteps, with financial support from IDLC. DNCC is also providing logistical support, including excavators.