Md Altaf Hussain :
It is necessary to increase awareness of the common people to keep the rivers free from pollution. The main reason of river pollution is throwing of industrial wastes into the rivers. We need to continue our motivational drive to stop throwing human wastes, industrial wastes and tannery wastes into the rivers. The government had built border pillar and walkways to keep the River Buriganga free from encroachment.
The riverbed should be dredged to increase its draft or depth. There should be active and conscious to make the common people aware of the importance of keeping the environment free from pollution. Most of the rivers – the Buriganga, the Turag – are being filled up and polluted by various unkind or anti environmental activities of the commoners, such non-friendly acts to environment should be discouraged, better stopped forthwith.
In the past water of the river was clear and safe for drinking the rivers were well flowing. The scenario is now completely different and opposite. The water is now bitter smelly and motionless. The draft of Buriganga, as per a conservative estimate has at least decreased by 20ft in 2014 from that of 2004. It is a dangerous deathblow to the life of a river.
Hundreds of crore taka has been spent to build waste yard but those are not in use. It is simply frustrating and misuse of public money. Residents along the Buriganga throw wastes into the river so casually that they seem to be completely mindless. Industrial and house hold wastes cover the riverbed and at the same time the river water is being polluted making it unsafe for domestic use, not to speak of drinking. The amount of oxygen in the water is decreasing and the aqua-resources like fishes and water-plants are at the verge of extinction.
Most beds of the rivers are being land filled or encroached. The builders are constructing houses there. At the same time people are polluting the rivers and blocking the natural flow. This is very dangerous for all from the ecological and environmental viewpoints. There are laws against such activities perpetuated by the land-grabbers. They are destroying the natural beauty and environment. The laws should be actively implemented by the government. The people should be conscious so that none can destroy the ecological balance of the environment.
Everyday millions of litres of toxic chemicals and wastes are being thrown into the rivers. The water is not only polluted but it also spreads bad smell. People cannot cross the river by boat easily because of the sticky water. The natural chemical component of the water, which is considered life cell of water, is decreasing. The colour of the water is changing. The water is seriously polluted.
Moreover there are many chemical toxic elements, which are very serious for every living agent. It is dangerous for the soil, air, water and other aqua-resources and hydrologic plants or bodies. Fish, other water supported lives are disappearing from these rivers. The used water – both sewerage and domestic – use of the hospitals, shops dwelling houses – small and big industries – is being drained ant by the people into the rivers. As a result, the water has become pitched coloured, unsafe for human usages and contaminated and risky for drinking.
The dishonest businessmen are lifting and trading in sands. They are filling up the ditches and wetlands, constructing building houses for their own interest. The criminals have captured hundreds of plots of land from Aminbazar, Dhaka to North Foydabad by the sides of the river Turag.
The stories are the some in Mirpur, Uttara, Ashulia and all around the Dhaka City. There are many illegal building along the border pillar of the River Shitalakhya. There are many slums and houses too illegal occupation, unauthorised construction of infrastructures and all for personal gains of the influential people with political patronisation- these are the common stories alongside the rivers in rounding the capital city.
Even in the backdrop of such a pitchy-dark scenario, there is a growing public awareness amongst the common people about environment, conservation of natural habitats and the nature itself. The county has some renowned environmentalists and experts who are much devoted to and fully evolved in making the people conscious and imbibing them to be pro-active environment campaigners, In the process some non-profit organisations (NGOs) have also emerged out who are all out to save the environment, ecology and the mother Earth in its natural beauty and couture.
‘Save the Buriganga Movement’ is are such citizens’ body dedicated to save the rivers encircling the capital city, Dhaka.
On the other hand, the government decision-makes are now also more conscious of the problems of public life and livings. They are also now more responsive in setting the public matrix.
However, at the top of all, the common city dwellers need to be much more aware of the problems created themselves making their all day living hazardous by damaging the environment, particularly by killing the rivers around them. Hence, it is the people first who should come forward to rivers the scenario. They should raise in single voice against the killers of the rivers – join the ‘Save the Buriganga Movement.’
environment activist)
