Staff Reporter :
The private institution Ad-Din Sakina Medical College Hospital authorities have taken a unique initiative to renovate and clean the Mukteshwari River flowing through the Mandalgati-Pulerhat-Bhaturia area of Jessore suburb.
The river flowing past the institution stops flowing for most of the year, creating waterlogging. This situation is created due to the narrowness of the river and the accumulation of silt at the bottom, which becomes high. The people living nearby throw garbage and waste everywhere in the river, which destroys the balance of the environment. The stagnant water accumulated in the Medical College Hospital area emits a foul smell. This creates a health risk for the general public and patients. To prevent health risks, the institution, on its own initiative, makes written applications to the Water Development Board and the concerned authorities and arranges to keep the garbage and waste clean. The rotten mud of the river is removed and the banks of the river are renovated. This increases the depth of the river and the water flow is normal. During the monsoon season, the Ad-Din authorities release fish fry into the open water bodies in this part at their own expense. The river is clean during this time and the water flow is smooth in the Ad-Din Medical College Hospital section.
As the river is regularly cleaned by its own personnel, algae or slime cannot accumulate in the hospital area. Therefore, this area is a fish sanctuary. In addition, local people can catch and eat fish. On the other hand, the river north of the bridge adjacent to Pulerhat Bazar on the Jessore-Benapole highway is filled with garbage all year round. In addition, this part of the river is covered with algae and moss. Water is not seen in this part during the dry season. It is easy to understand that the riverbed has dried up in some places. Due to lack of cleanliness, the river in that part has a strong stench and piles of garbage.
The Ad-Din authorities have voluntarily installed wire fences to prevent pedestrians and riverside residents from littering the river. This is yielding some benefits.
Medical College Principal Professor Dr. Sanjay Saha said, “Such initiatives are mainly taken to maintain the flow of the river and reduce health risks. It is the responsibility of the concerned authorities of the government, but to avoid delays and hassles, we are doing this work on our own initiative in the public interest.”
Dr. Md. Imdadul Haque, director of the 500-bed Ad-Din Sakina Medical College Hospital, said, “There is a flow of water in this river only during the rainy season. Due to the flow, the dirt, garbage and algae in the river are cleaned at that time. But due to the lack of flow in the dry season, the little water that accumulates creates dirt and bad smell. This destroys the environment. Thinking about the health of ordinary patients, we keep it clean on our own initiative. The common people are also satisfied with this.”
He further said, Ad-Din Hospital gives utmost importance to cleanliness. We give utmost importance to cleanliness inside the medical college and hospital. We are trying to keep the outside area clean as well. So that patients can receive services in a beautiful environment free from germs.
