Authorities must protect River Karatoya, now a dumping ground

The Karatoya River in Gaibandha, once a source of livelihood for many, has now become a dumping ground for waste. Trucks from Gobindaganj municipality have been dumping trash in broad daylight on a dried-up section of the river, turning it into a site of environmental degradation.

The situation is not new, as since 1996, the Water Development Board in Gaibandha set up a three-vent regulator near Khulshi village to prevent floods in the upazila town. This resulted in the part of the river running around 10km on the village’s side remaining dry for nine months a year, with little water flowing through it during monsoon.

The officials from the municipality claimed that they were manufacturing compost manure on the dumping ground, and hence asked to dump the rubbish into the river. However, this practice has only added to the pollution and degradation of the river. To protect the 116-km long Karatoya River from encroachment and pollution, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) filed a writ petition in 2015 against 20 government institutions and officials. The High Court issued a show-cause notice to the respondents and directed them to take measures to prevent further harm.

However, the local administration seems unaware of the situation and plans to take necessary steps after consulting with the mayor. The Water Development Board in Bogura submitted a Tk 2,900 crore project in 2018 to revive the river, but it is yet to be approved. The board’s plan to control the river by building dams and sluice gates may not be the best solution as trying to control nature through such drastic measures may have unintended and devastating results.

It is crucial to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of preserving natural resources and ecosystems like rivers. Also, the authorities must take immediate and effective measures to stop the dumping of waste in the river and ensure the restoration of its ecological balance.