Nineteen canals will be reclaimed within this year in the capital by freeing those from encroachment, said Water Resources and also Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Sunday.

Six canals (out of 19 canals) will be freed from encroachment and pollution before the upcoming monsoon, she said at a function held at Bawnia to inaugurate the restoration works of the six canals under the two city corporations in Dhaka.

The six canals are Bawnia Canal, Rupnagar Canal, Begunbari Canal, Manda Canal, Kalunagar Canal, and Korail Lake, covering a total length of 23.66 kilometers.

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She said the work for reclaiming 13 more canals will be started very soon.

She highlighted the importance of ensuring that wastes from surrounding households are disposed of in designated areas.

A committee will be formed to oversee and monitor every two kilometers of a canal so that wastes are not disposed of in the canals.

The adviser said they have plans to introduce agricultural activities, greenery, and fish farming along the banks of the restored canals.

She urged the city dwellers to raise their voice for protection of canals and actively participate in the protection of canals.

Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan and LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain were present at the function.

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The canal reclamation initiative is being implemented under the supervision of the LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry, the Water Resources Ministry, the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, and the Housing and Public Works Ministry.

The Dhaka District Administration, DNCC, DSCC, RAJUK, Dhaka WASA, RDRC, BAPA, Green Voice, WBBT, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Army, the Department of Environment and the Water Development Board are engaged in the canal restoration process.