DoE takes initiatives: Karnaphuli pollution causes concern
A Correspondent :
Department of Environment (DoE) has taken initiative to save the river Karnaphuli from pollution and keep it navigable.
The DoE identified the units during a recent survey to measure pollution in the river water and ensure environmental clearance by the industrial units.
The recent survey also revealed serious pollution in the river water due to the industrial wastage and sewerage that find their ways to the river through eight canals everyday. Uncontrolled pollution and encroachment continue to grip the river Karnaphuli in Chattogram, posing a serious threat to environment and aquatic life.
Industrial effluents, solid and liquid household wastes, and oil spillage from water transports are major contributors to the pollution. Sources said lack of sewerage treatment plant and combined efforts by the authorities concerned is largely blamed for Karnaphuli pollution.
The master plan placed 31 short-term, 14 medium-term and five long-term recommendations to save Karnaphuli River. The master plan for checking pollution, improving navigability, and stopping encroachment has identified a total of 14 reasons for the pollution of Karnaphuli River in Chattogram
According to the master plan, the absence of sewage treatment plants (STP) is one of the major causes behind the river pollution. Due to the absence of STP, 70% of the household water directly finds its way into the Karnaphuli. Moreover, as many as 50,000 sanitary and 24,000 unhygienic traditional latrines of the port city are directly linked to the river.
The port city of six million people produces a staggering 2500 tons of waste every day, which is dumped under the open sky in two landfills. Due to the absence of a proper waste management system, the waste gets washed away with rainwater and mixes with the river. Besides, there are 400 slaughterhouses in the port city’s Firingi Bazar and Dewanhat areas alone . The blood from the slaughtered animals directly finds its way into the river.
A large amount of fuel is spilled whenever there is a collision between oil tankers.On October 25, at least 10 tons of diesel was spilled into the Karnaphuli River, following a collision between two oil tanker s. The thick layer of oil caused a shortage of oxygen in the water.
Besides, polluted water from fertilizer run-off finds its way into the sea and hampers the growth of underwater plants. Consequently, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level falls, posing a threat to the aquatic animals. Fifty-two small and large canals of the port city carry 22,000 tons of waste, both biodegradable and non-biodegradable, to the Karnaphuli River every day. The non-biodegradable waste such as polythene gets deposited on the riverbed.
Moreover, the people living on the banks of the canals dump household waste directly into the canals, which ultimately finds its way into the river. Hills are razed in many areas of the city for constructing structures; rainwater then washes away sand-mixed soil from the hills and obstructs free flow of water in the canals. The catchment areas have lost their water retention capacity. As a result, the waste can easily mix with the river water. The non-biodegradable waste released by the industries gets deposited on the riverbed, making the dredging work much more difficult. The Chattogram Port Authority found a layer of 8ft to 10ft polythene while dredging the river.
Light, medium, and heavy industries should be set up in separate zones, but the industrial zones of the port city did not follow the norms. That is why the management of industrial waste is greatly hampered. Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and Chattogram Wasa are tasked with the overall waste management of the port city, with specific responsibilities for each entity.
Department of Environment (DoE) has taken initiative to save the river Karnaphuli from pollution and keep it navigable.
The DoE identified the units during a recent survey to measure pollution in the river water and ensure environmental clearance by the industrial units.
The recent survey also revealed serious pollution in the river water due to the industrial wastage and sewerage that find their ways to the river through eight canals everyday. Uncontrolled pollution and encroachment continue to grip the river Karnaphuli in Chattogram, posing a serious threat to environment and aquatic life.
Industrial effluents, solid and liquid household wastes, and oil spillage from water transports are major contributors to the pollution. Sources said lack of sewerage treatment plant and combined efforts by the authorities concerned is largely blamed for Karnaphuli pollution.
The master plan placed 31 short-term, 14 medium-term and five long-term recommendations to save Karnaphuli River. The master plan for checking pollution, improving navigability, and stopping encroachment has identified a total of 14 reasons for the pollution of Karnaphuli River in Chattogram
According to the master plan, the absence of sewage treatment plants (STP) is one of the major causes behind the river pollution. Due to the absence of STP, 70% of the household water directly finds its way into the Karnaphuli. Moreover, as many as 50,000 sanitary and 24,000 unhygienic traditional latrines of the port city are directly linked to the river.
The port city of six million people produces a staggering 2500 tons of waste every day, which is dumped under the open sky in two landfills. Due to the absence of a proper waste management system, the waste gets washed away with rainwater and mixes with the river. Besides, there are 400 slaughterhouses in the port city’s Firingi Bazar and Dewanhat areas alone . The blood from the slaughtered animals directly finds its way into the river.
A large amount of fuel is spilled whenever there is a collision between oil tankers.On October 25, at least 10 tons of diesel was spilled into the Karnaphuli River, following a collision between two oil tanker s. The thick layer of oil caused a shortage of oxygen in the water.
Besides, polluted water from fertilizer run-off finds its way into the sea and hampers the growth of underwater plants. Consequently, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level falls, posing a threat to the aquatic animals. Fifty-two small and large canals of the port city carry 22,000 tons of waste, both biodegradable and non-biodegradable, to the Karnaphuli River every day. The non-biodegradable waste such as polythene gets deposited on the riverbed.
Moreover, the people living on the banks of the canals dump household waste directly into the canals, which ultimately finds its way into the river. Hills are razed in many areas of the city for constructing structures; rainwater then washes away sand-mixed soil from the hills and obstructs free flow of water in the canals. The catchment areas have lost their water retention capacity. As a result, the waste can easily mix with the river water. The non-biodegradable waste released by the industries gets deposited on the riverbed, making the dredging work much more difficult. The Chattogram Port Authority found a layer of 8ft to 10ft polythene while dredging the river.
Light, medium, and heavy industries should be set up in separate zones, but the industrial zones of the port city did not follow the norms. That is why the management of industrial waste is greatly hampered. Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and Chattogram Wasa are tasked with the overall waste management of the port city, with specific responsibilities for each entity.