State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam on Saturday said all canals in Dhaka will be recovered and a list of encroachers is being prepared to take legal action against them.

“Encroached canals will be recovered according to CS records and maps. We are preparing a list of illegal occupiers and strict action will be taken against them in accordance with the law,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks while visiting Zia Sarani Canal and Kutubkhali Canal under the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) area.

DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam was present during the inspection.

Mir Shahe Alam said Tk 300 crore has been allocated to excavate the Zia Sarani Canal and reconnect it with the Buriganga River through a planned channel.

“The project will begin in July this year with funding from the city corporation,” he added.

The minister alleged that no development project was undertaken for the Zia Sarani Canal over the past 19 years partly because it was named after former president Ziaur Rahman.

He said excavation of the canals will begin after the upcoming monsoon while cleaning activities have already started.

Highlighting public responsibility, the minister said residents living near the canals have also contributed to the current condition by dumping waste into the waterways.

“The rubbish did not arrive on its own. Please dispose of waste in the city corporation bins. Repeated cleaning by the government results in a waste of public funds,” he said.

He also urged local leaders to form citizen committees to help monitor the canals and prevent further encroachment and pollution.

During the inspection, Local Government Division Secretary Shahidul Hasan, Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin, along with senior officials and local party leaders, were also present.