The government has taken an initiative to introduce a start-of-the-art dredging monitoring system to ensure transparency in the work.
Under the move, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) which is under the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) will introduce "Real Time Dredge Monitoring System" within the next one month.
"We are set to introduce "Real Time Dredge Monitoring System" within the next one month for ensuring transparency in dredging work," a high official of the MoS told The Financial Express (FE) on Wednesday.
He said the new system will ensure an exact amount/length, time and places for dredging.
The new dredging system will ensure transparency about the real dredging work going on under the river bed/under water with the exact amount of dredging needs to be done.
It will also help to know about hours, days, depth, and alignment of dredging, according to the MoS.
The shipping ministry official further said that the "Real Time Dredge System" will first be introduced with dredger-based station at Shimuliaghat in Munshiganj involving the cost of over 24 million.
Initially, this system will be introduced into five dredgers.
And after that the new system will be introduced to anther more 45 dredgers.
The MoS will bear the cost from its innovation fund for implementing the" Real Time Dredge System" being implemented by an American company.
The shipping ministry official further said that introducing of "Real Time Dredge Monitoring System" has been discussed at a meeting last week at the ministry.
State Minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury directed the ministry and BIWTA officials to gearing up the ongoing projects works.
The junior minister said at the meeting that the government will take measures whatever necessary to keep the river routes/navigability active for ensuring smooth movement of river vessels and goods laden ships during coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
The MoS has been implementing 51 projects involving the cost of around over Tk 43.46 billion during the fiscal year 2020-21.
Of the total projects,42 projects are under annual development programmes while nine for by the ministry's own.
The MoS has completed 11 projects during the last fiscal year.
Besides, duration for completion of 14 projects taken during the last fiscal year has also been extended for more one year.
The MoS has set a target to complete 13 projects for the current fiscal year.
