The Narasunda River in Kishoreganj has been left to the death throes due to encroachment and pollution by the local encroachers and the influentials. Already the river has lost its flow due to the construction of an embankment at the Kaona area of Hossainpur.
According to a report of the District Administration, some 41 persons of adjacent upazilas have grabbed nearly 82 per cent of areas of the Narasunda River. But, according to the environmentalists, at least 400 people have occupied the river areas.
According to sources of the Water Development Board of Kishoreganj, the flowing from the river Brahmaputra, Narsunda river entered into Kishoreganj through the Pakundia frontier. After flowing about 67 kilometres, the river falls into the Dhanu River near Badla of Itna upazila.
Most of the places of the river are now filled with garbage, water hyacinths, creepers and jungles. The scanty water of the garbaged river turned pitch black emitting stench. All the garbage, human wastes, and drained sewages of the adjacent houses of the river are disposed of into the river. As a result, walking through the walkways along the river has become almost impossible. Most of the river banks and the bed of the river have been occupied. Many small char lands have appeared inside the river where people are cultivating various crops and vegetables including Paddy, Sweet Potato and Mustard.
It is learnt, a Project named 'Rehabilitation of Narsunda River and Kishoreganj Municipality area Development Project' at a cost of Taka 64 crore was taken to resume the flow of Narsunda and to make Kishoregaj a river-oriented town in 2012. Later the project cost was estimated at Taka 115 crore.
The project implemented by LGED was supposed to be completed by 2015. Later, the tenure of completion of the project was then extended two times. Later, LGED somehow completed the project in 2016. Even after increasing the project amount several times, the river did not resume its navigability.
It is learnt, a social organisation named Nagorik Odhikar Suraskha Mancho organised a rally demanding the full implementation of the Narsunda River Project, eviction of the illegal occupants and compensation for the losers at Islamia Super Market premises on January 30, 2015. But, no action was taken in this connection.
Syed Yeasin, Member of the Narsunda River Save Movement informed, we have all killed Narsunda River and no one will get rid of its responsibility, neither the public nor the administration.
Saiful Islam Jewel, General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon of Kishoreganj said, the Narsunda River, Lifeline of Kishoreganj, is under the grip of river pollution. The water Development Board and Narsunda Beautification Enhancement project have destroyed the river by the name of resuming its flow. The Kaona embankment has mostly destroyed the river. The river has lost its flow due to this embankment. Some areas of the river were free but now the entire river is under the grip of the grabbers. All the garbage of the town is being dumped in the river. Municipal authorities, the Water Development Board and some river-grabbers are directly involved with the act. Some 400 to 500 river grabbers have occupied the river, made establishments and of cultivating land there.
Parvez Mia, Mayor of Kishoreganj Municipality informed, that LGED did not hand over the implemented project of Narsunda.
Amirul Islam, Executive Engineer of LGED informed, he was not at Kishoreganj in 2016 and he would only talk about the project after reviewing the files.
Matiur Rahman, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board of Kishoreganj said a project has been taken to resume the flow of the Narsunda River. Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Commissioner of Kishoreganj informed, after his taking charge, no one has been able to pour even a piece of straw in the river let alone the occupation of the river. He said, legal action will be taken against those changing the record of the river, if any. He further said he is trying to allocate funds for resuming flow of the river. He added, according to concerned sources, the flow of the river will not be resumed by removing the Kaona embankment.