Authorities have knocked down 15,175 illegal structures and recovered 566 acres of land along the Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakkhya rivers, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury told the parliament today.

Replying a query of Awami League MP Ishrafil Alam, the state minister said that 12396 illegal structures were knocked down and 372.12 acres of land were recovered along the Buriganga, Turag and Balu rivers in Dhaka.

Another 2779 illegal structures were demolished and 194 acres of land were recovered along the Shitalakkhya River in Narayanganj.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said construction of walkways, benches for sitting, eco-park and tree plantation on the banks after recovery of banks are going on, to make sure that these banks don't get occupied in the future again.

The question-answer session was tabled on the onset of day’s proceedings.