The caretaker government yesterday asked for urgently undertaking the long-neglected Eastern Bypass-cum-Flood Control Embankment construction project to protect the eastern part of the city from floods. A high-level inter-ministerial meeting, presided over by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed, gave the directive as the government considered a package programme for solving waterlogging problem and ensuring civic amenities. Under another major step for Dhaka city, the meeting asked the authorities concerned to form separate municipal authority to ensure overall civic amenities, including removal of solid waste from DND area, and devise comprehensive drainage system. The chief adviser directed the ministries and organisations concerned to formulate comprehensive and integrated effective plans and take steps to resolve the existing waterlogging problems in various parts of the country, including Dhaka and Chittagong cities. He also instructed recovery of drainage canals of the capital and keep those natural drainage system "always neat and clean'. The high-level meeting on resolving prevailing waterlogging and deciding future course of action was held at the CA's office. The meeting asked for keeping up the ongoing tidal river management activities for removing water logging from Bhabadah and its adjacent areas and providing compensation to the affected farmers. Also instruction was given for restoring the navigability of rivers of the country's southwestern region as part of the long-term planning. Finance Adviser Azizul Islam, LGRD Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal, Home and Shipping Adviser Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin, Communications Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Ghulam Quader and Water Resources Adviser CS Karim were present at the meeting. Besides, Secretary of CA's office, CA's Press Secretary, secretaries and heads of divisions and organisations concerned were also present. Water expert Dr Ainnun Nishat also attended the meeting.