Tangail district administration yesterday started demolishing illegal structures on the Karatia canal in Sadar upazila.

Led by Revenue Deputy Collector (RDC) in Tangail Tariqul Alam, and Sadar upazila Assistant Commissioner (land) Sanwarul Haque, police and members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) joined the drive.

Originated from Louhajang River at Karatia in Sadar upazila, the canal joins the Jhinai River at Nothkhola in Basail upazila.

On the first day of the drive, the team knocked down two two-storied buildings out of 58 structures.

"Drive against the rest 56 structures, both concrete and tin-shed, will be carried out in the next few days," the AC (land) told this correspondent on the spot.

Mahbub Hossain, deputy commissioner of Tangail, said some dishonest people had erected structures encroaching upon the canal, leaving it virtually dead.

"The eviction drive will continue until all the illegal structures are demolished," the DC said, adding that the canal will be excavated under the 40 days work programmes to restore its normal water flow.

"Though the authorities can demolish illegal structures on government land any time, all formalities, including sending of notices to the grabbers, were completed before launching the drive," the AC (land) said.

Humayun Khaled, a resident of Karatia, said they have welcomed the drive to free the important canal from the grabbers.

"The authorities started demolishing my building in the morning without serving any notice," said one Nazrul Islam.