On a most up-to-date morning, sixty-year-inclined Md Yamin used to be taking his current stroll alongside the lakeside boulevard in Sector 7 of Uttara, reflecting on the adjustments within the sphere he had witnessed. He has viewed the general water bodies in Uttara vanish over time. It’s simplest Uttara Lake now. But, that too is death.
The lake has already shriveled considerably attributable to encroachment and pollution, and now Yamin sees constructing work alongside the lake banks that has been going on for the past decade. It seems to be, so to red meat up the lake’s look, concrete blocks are being laid from the lakebed to the brink.
“Work on Uttara Lake’s first segment started round 2014 or 2015. It paused at instances; and now one-fourth of the lake has been dry for two years,” Yamin sounded frustrated while talking to The Commercial Customary.
“Concrete blocks now line the lake’s edges, making it gaze worship a swimming pool. Covering the lake bottom with concrete is a waste of public funds.”
He added, “This money can also were dilapidated to preserve the lake and provide seating for the residents.”
Different residents of the neighbourhood and metropolis planners piece Yamin’s concerns, believing the underwater concrete paving is a waste of cash.
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) is accountable for Uttara Lake’s upkeep, overseeing a vogue project costing round Tk91 crore. Within the starting build authorized in 2014, the project’s completion has been extended various instances and is now anticipated by June 2025.
Escalating funds with out earnings
Architect Iqbal Habib, vice-president of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), criticised the project, asserting, “Including needless concrete work in any project will enhance funds.
“Concrete blocks are frequently dilapidated to give protection to coastlines from erosion precipitated by true currents and waves, which is needless for Uttara Lake. Attributable to this truth, laying concrete embankments here’s a misuse of govt funds.”
He mentioned, “Prolonging projects unnecessarily will enhance funds and opens the door to unethical gains for some. The governmentmust gaze into these considerations sooner than approving such projects. Prolonging projects year after year is completely a waste of cash.”
To be done by December?
Vital Customary (retd) Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarker, chairman of Rajuk, informed TBS, “The project faced delays because we had to remove squatters round the lake. We aim to realize the work by December.
“We have carried out many of the lake excavation and embankment work sooner than the monsoon. The closing responsibilities will be carried out rapidly. Furthermore, tree planting and walkway constructing alongside the lake banks proceed, even all the way in which by way of the moist season.”
Concerning the set up of concrete blocks, the Rajuk chairman mentioned, “We have positioned concrete blocks as a lot as the glorious water level essentially based on advice from consultants.
“These blocks will be submerged and now no longer viewed when the lake is fleshy. We adopted professional advice to prevent monetary institution erosion. Residents are also happy with the beautification efforts on the lake.”
Half of the project carried out
The project, named “Lake Excavation, Sludge Removal, Slope Protection, and Walkway Work at Uttara Lake Model Mission,” is consulted by Facts Expert (Pvt) Runt, with Udayan Builders as the vogue companion.
In line with project officials, work has been carried out on two of the four segments of the two.15km Uttara Lake, with ongoing efforts now eager about the third segment.
Excavation is whole, and concrete blocks were positioned underwater within the two done segments. Present work involves excavation, embankment constructing, and walkway vogue on the third segment.
To brighten the sphere, a 4.17km walkway is being constructed, alongside with embankment constructing and tree planting alongside the 63.84-acre lakefront.
Mission engineers highlight that a significant fragment of the prices for this lake vogue project is distributed to lining the lakebed with concrete embankments.
A most up-to-date toddle to to Uttara Lake showed that the set up of concrete blocks round the third segment is kind of whole. However, various blocks have already collapsed in about a spots attributable to insufficient soil preparation. In a single field, workers were viewed excavating and repairing pipes.
A worker expressed concerns, asserting, “The plastic pipes are cracking under soil strain, which iron pipes frequently face as a lot as raised when buried. The sturdiness of these pipes remains unsure, requiring frequent repairs.”
The first two segments, despite being carried out, mute repeat indicators of illegal occupation and pollution. Section of the first segment is taken up by two nurseries constructed within the heart of the lake. Despite efforts to excavate and embank the lake, these nurseries remain.
The lake is divided into four sections by three crossroads. Alongside both aspects of these roads, which intersect the lake, approximately 30 short-term stalls slit up most frequently.
These institutions, alongside with the nurseries, vague views of the lake from these areas. Furthermore, heaps of rubbish are viewed within the first, second and fourth segments of the lake.
A nursery employee informed TBS, “The proprietor has rented this location and situation up a nursery. I’ve been here for the final 5 years. There are many permanent and short-term outlets in this field, situation up alongside the lake banks.”
Residents would genuinely like to gaze an halt
Umme Habiba, a resident of Uttara Sector 13, informed TBS, “I dilapidated to recede alongside the boulevard, however I did no longer know there used to be a lake on both aspects. Lawful about a days ago, from a bus, I realized the lake there.
“We already live surrounded by concrete jungles, and the few inexperienced spaces we now have are also tormented by encroachment and pollution.”
Iqbal, residing in Uttara Sector 12, mentioned, “I’ve been searching on the work on the third segment for approximately a year now. With the onset of the monsoon, I gaze the work has largely halted. When will we open reaping the advantages of the lake if vogue work continues for years?”
Construction firm Insist Group is at the moment overseeing the lake vogue.
Saiful Islam, accounts supervisor at Insist Group for this project, informed TBS, “The costliest ingredient of the lake work used to be doing away with mud and soil to deepen it.
“The lake now could presumably be 38ft deep, with 16ft slopes of concrete blocks. We have also blocked all dwelling drain pipelines to the lake.”
Md Mobarak Hossain, project director and supervising engineer at Rajuk’s Uttara lake vogue project, informed TBS, “We have had to scale support our long-established plans and funds considerably, focusing simplest on lake excavation, embankment, and walkway constructing.
“Evicting illegal occupants and clearing slums from the lakeside posed most considerable challenges. We have carried out about 50% of the lake vogue work.”
