The municipality authority, with the help of joint forces and led by a magistrate, Sunday launched the drive to remove illegal structures on either sidesof the canal to recover the grabbed lands.

Earlier, the municipality served eviction notice on the owners of 240 illegal structures.

The recipients of the notice were asked to remove their illegal structures in 10 days saying, in case of failure, the municipality authority itself would dismantle it.

A number of dwellers alleged that the municipality did not serve notice on a few land grabbers who built concrete structures on the land of the canal.

Mohammad Salim of Pashari Para said, two thatched rooms were dismantled whereas three buildings on the northern side of the canal remained untouched.

The owners of these buildings are very influential, he said adding, that is why they did not serve them with eviction notice.

When asked, the chairman of the municipality said, 'The allegation is baseless and ridiculous. The eviction drive is being carried out completely impartially and neutrally.'

He said, those who lost their structures in the ongoing drive feel aggrieved, so they might complain.

Magistrate Moniruzzaman who led the eviction drive told this correspondent that the lands on the banks of the canal belong to the municipality. So, it was duty of the municipality authority to recover them, he added.

'The eviction drive is being carried out as per instruction of the municipal authority and structures demolished accordingly, he said.

An official of the joint force on condition of anonymity assured that no illegal structure, even if of the municipal chairman on the land of the canal, would be spared.

He said, 'We are closely observing the activities of the municipality.'

Shyamasundari canal is the main outlet for drainage of Rangpur town. All drains and sub-canals from different areas of the town have been connected with it for easy drainage.

It is historical as well. The then Zaminder Raja Janoki Bollov excavated the 16 km long and 50 feet wide canal and named it after his mother in 1890.

He did it at the suggestion of physicians who pointed out that malaria, diarrhoea, cholera and pox broke out frequently in the epidemic form due to lack of

proper drainage system in Rangpur town.

But the canal was not repaired for over hundred years. With the advance of time, some people occupied its land, filled it and then built structures of different kinds. As a result, the drainage system of the town totally collapsed posing health hazard to the dwellers.

Environmentalists, civil society, and elite of Rangpur on different occasions urged the authorities concerned to excavate the canal.

Due to financial constraints, Rangpur municipality could not repair the canal. Finally, RDRS and CARE Bangladesh came forward to extend their support.

A programme has been undertaken to start renovation of the canal. The eviction drive is part of this move.