As reported by this daily on Tuesday, five rivers surrounding the capital including the Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Turag, Dhaleshwari and Balu are being polluted from more than 300 drains connected with these rivers.
Reportedly, at least 3.5 lakh kilograms of liquid waste and solid garbage are being mixed with river water every day through these drains.
Murky water of the rivers surrounding capital Dhaka spreads foul odour all the time as untreated industrial effluent, urban wastewater, agro-chemicals, sewage water and solid waste are being dumped in the rivers.
Considering the poor condition of our rivers, authorities
concerned should come up with prudent steps to save
the rivers across the country from pollution and encroachment
Most of the rivers in and around the capital have been illegally occupied by influential quarters and various institutions destroying the entire ecological balance and natural beauty.
Environmentalists have long been crying hoarse for devising intervention on the part of the government to save the rivers in and around the capital. Earlier in 2019, the High Court issued a 17-point directive to save the country’s rivers and water-bodies. Also, the Prime Minister herself has repeatedly directed the ministries to take necessary measures to save our rivers. Yet, our rivers continue to turn into drains.
Considering the poor condition of our rivers, authorities concerned should come up with prudent steps to save the rivers across the country from pollution and encroachment. What is needed is to rethink the sewage system of the capital and take necessary steps to stop the practice of wastage dumping into the rivers.
We must stop the continuous discharge of thousands of tons of industrial waste, garbage, and sewage into the rivers. Besides, steps should be taken so that new installations could not be built filling rivers.
In this regard, a concerted and well-deployed move fuelled by adequate allocation of resources to save our rivers has become the need of the hour.
