Chei ma canal flows between Menron mro neighborhood and Leng pung mro neighborhood of ward No 7 in remote area of Ruma Upazila of Bandarban. During the monsoon season, floods swept away livestock, pigs, chickens, and in the dry season there seen a severe water crisis. Biodiversity is under threat due to the drying up of these streams.
After visiting the spot the reporter found out that, a local Chamsing Mro (45) from Rui Upazila Kamala Bazar Para of Bandarban came to collect water from Tui khang Ziri with great difficulty. But there was no water in the well. After seeing the reporter he said helplessly that only a few jugs of water can be collect in the early morning, otherwise you have to wait for hours. Hundreds of such waterfalls in Bandarban can be seen around drying.
Bandarban Sadar Upazila’s Khizari ziri, Rupali Zarna, Badura Zarna, Shangya Ziri, Laimi para Ziri, Soilo prapat ziri are now waterless. People living near streams and waterfalls are in severe water crisis. They are digging small wells to recover the water crisis by collecting the least amount of water.
Due to the drying up of Jhiri Jharna, the non-vegetarian suppliers of low-income hill tribes are not getting any small fish, snails and crabs. They are also suffering from acute shortage of nutrition. Severe water crisis has been reported especially in Khumi and Mro neighborhoods.
Kumain Para, Liyantong Para, Prapumok Khumi Para, Aungshwe Khumi Para. In Roangchhari Upazila, Lanthang para, Shangking para, Thangka moy para kyasalong para have experienced severe water crisis.
Longa Khumi, a prominent news worker and president of the Khumi Social Council Committee, said that there is a severe water crisis in Khumi Para for four months from February to May every year. He said there could be a humanitarian catastrophe if clean water is not provide to the remote Khumi Para area immediately.
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Biodiversity is under threat in various parts of Bandarban today due to over-excavation of stones and cutting of forest trees. After visiting the spot and talking with a large number of people in the area the BP Post correspondent find out that, Menthok karbari para Dhungsi khal Gorjon karbari paraya Choto beti ziri, Boro beti ziri, Shil, Lama upazila katal Chara ziri, Champot para ziri, Fasia khali Union Bonfur area, Edgha Chara, Shapmara Chara Aga, Shamuk ziri, Eyangsha mou Gojalia mouja kya prang ziri and Nunar Jhiri in the municipal area Stones are being extracted and smuggled.
Local environmentalists have expressed fears that the way forests are being used in the name of holding permits and extracting stones from various waterfalls could lead to major environmental disasters. Locals say a strong syndicate is involved in quarrying in Bandarban district. A people's representative, who did not want to be named, said that. Local people do not dare to open their mouths for fear of illegal stone traders. Environmentalists claim that indiscriminate deforestation in the name of holding permits is also the main reason for this.
Due to the lack of forest, the wildlife is almost zero. Where there is even a small amount of water in the river, chemicals used in tobacco cultivation, mosquito repellent oil for killing fish, poisoning and various short aquatic animals including fish pollen are being killed while fishing with electric shorts. Or if the destruction is not stopped, the biodiversity of the three hill districts including Bandarban will be under extreme threat in future.
Tourists visiting the rocky cliffs can see water bottles, plastic one-time rice plates, and packets of chips being dumped by tourists in thewaterfalls.
Rowal Siam Lushai, a resident of Faruk Para, said that at present, about 150 families depend on water for bathing, cooking and on a daily basis, and the only source of water for these families during the dry season.
Zuam Lian Amlai Bawm, president of the Bandarban Chapter of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Forest and Land Rights Protection Movement, said that although climate change is generally thought to be the cause of stagnant of waterfalls and rivers, but here one of the causes is man-made problems. If there is no life, water or trees then nothing can be said but lifeless desert.
Asked about the allegations of deforestation, Bandarban Divisional Forest Officer Haque Mahbub Morshed said no trees had been cut down in the last one year from 10,000 hectares under the Bandarban Forest Department and about 32,000 hectares in the Sangu Reserve area. Zum cultivation and various orchards are cultivated on government lands which are not under the control of forest department. He said that in case of specific allegations of illegal quarrying or illegal logging, necessary legal action would be taken immediately. Besides, there is a target of distributing 1 lakh saplings of different species in different neighborhoods and institutions this year, he said.
'Stones are illegally extracted from the hills, canals and springs of Bandarban at different times, which is a threat to the environment. We have taken a very strong stand to stop the lifting of these stones. The deputy commissioner of Bandarban Yasmin Parveen Tibriji said that she is taking legal action by conducting mobile courts in every upazila for this purpose.