Video
Episode 1. Insights into the PRC's Approaches to River Management
15 Nov 2024Md. Mostafa Kamal, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping in Bangladesh, highlights the unique approaches adopted by the PRC in managing its major rivers, such as having separate laws and authorities for each river, and how these learnings can benefit Bangladesh.
Transcript:
Lot of things we have learnt what we can share and we can actually capitalize this knowledge.
One unique thing is, the PRC is promulgating laws for separate rivers.
Yangtze River have its own law.
Yellow River have its own law.
There are separate authority for every river.
This is very unique.
The Commission for separate rivers is so powerful and have been given the authority.
Yesterday the commissioner told that even not a drop of water can be withdrawn without the permission of the Commission.
Another thing is that regarding the big constructions like big bridges, and flood free lands beside the rivers, the PRC constructed the bridges around 200% or more than the size of the width of the river.
Because the flood plain land is free, when flood comes, it does not hit the bridge, and they did not compromise with the nature.
They keep the nature as it is.
All these are learnings for us.
And the government has the commitment as well.
The development partners like ADB, they are very good partners.
They don’t only finance, they also come with the solutions.
And this is the thing of what I feel the uniqueness.
Thank you very much.
