Water resources ministry plans to dig another 500 canals to help recede floodwaters

State Minister for Water Resources Colonel (retd) Zahid Farooq said 500 canals were being dug in the country so that floodwaters could recede quickly.

The state minister said this while responding to questions from reporters after inaugurating a tree plantation programme at Dakshin Char Aicha village in Sayestabad union of Barisal's Sadar upazila on Friday morning.

Zahid Farooq further said, "In the first phase, 500 canals are being dug in 64 districts. Already 70 percent of the project has been completed. There are plans to dig another 500 canals at the end of the entire project, as a result, floodwaters will recede faster and there will be less damage.

He added that the current flood situation is improving day by day, the water is going down. The Water Development Board is working sincerely in this regard.

On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the Water Development Board organised this tree plantation programme on the banks of the Taltoli river in Barishal on Friday as part of the 10 lakh-tree plantation programme initiated by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Water Resources Mahmudul Islam, director general at the Water Development Board M Aminul Haque, chief engineer at the Southern Water Development Board Harun Ur Rashid and Deputy Commissioner SM Aziar Rahman were present on the occasion.