The money given by the local government ministry will be utilised by Rangpur municipal authorities.

"This is the first time after digging of the canal in 1890 that a sizeable amount of money has been sanctioned for re-excavation of the canal", said Rangpur deputy commissioner.

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, Rangpur Municipality Chairman Abdur Rouf Manik thanked the caretaker government on behalf of the town dwellers for this sanction.

"I never thought that I could finish re-excavation of the canal during my tenure due to fund constraint. The government's gesture is appreciated by all quarters in the town", he said.

The elite of the town said joint forces should closely monitor re-excavation of Shymasundury canal so that the work is done properly and smoothly.

Otherwise the project may not be implemented properly, they apprehended.

Environmental and socio-cultural organizasions in the district have long been demanding re-excavation of Shymasunduri canal which is virtually dying due to lack of steps by the authorities, encroachment and dumping of garbage.

As the canal was clogged, the drainage system of the town was badly affected, creating health hazards for the townspeople.

RDRS, a national NGO and Care Bangladesh re-excavated about four km of the canal this year after the municipal authorities with the help of joint forces evicted a large number of encroachers and removed illegal structures on both sides of the canal.

The sanctioned money will be utilised for re-excavation of rest 14 kilometres of the canal.