On the International Water Day, it has been demanded that all rivers, including Karatoya in Bogura district, be cleared of pollution and clear water flow be ensured. After the human chain organized by Bangladesh Environment Movement, Bogura unit, the students floated symbolic paper made boats demanding to ensure the flow of water of Karatoya river.
The event was arranged on on Sunday at the SP Bridge, adjacent to the river by the participation of more than 200 students of Bogra Mohila College. Officer of Water Development Board thinks if the project of protecting rivers gets permission and execution, Korotoa’s navigability will come back.
The Pundra civilization was emerged 2,500 years ago centering river which is nearly dead today. It has no wave, no water and no edge. In place of these things, there are high buildings, houses, business institutions and the drainage system of the waste disposal of the city on the river edge. The administration made a list of the occupiers to protect the river but that remained ineffective. About 20 kilometers of the river through Bogra city are under occupation and pollution. The flow of the zig zag river is in the grip of human made disaster. The river has become a narrow canal. There are a little water in some places that too turn black due to pollution.
The wide borderline of the river can be understood under the bridge but the water flow is like a worn-out drain. Agricultural cultivation is also done in many places on the river.
Locals informed, once big boats sailed over the Korotoa River, goods could be transported in different places of the country. Based on the river, businesses were extended, civilization was built. The humongous wavy Korotoa of that day is skinny today, losing its existence it turns into a dead canal. Because of occupancy and pollution the frenzy river flowing through the Bogra city is dying now. Despite of carrying out long time movement on bringing back the navigability of the Korotoa River along with making it occupancy and pollution free, Korotoa did not get back its former form.
It has been found that in 2015, the Bangladesh Environment Lawyer Association (BELA) filed a writ petition to the high court to save the river. The court issued the rule to the defendant to bring back the former water flow of the Korotoa River and to know why it would not be ordered to stop throwing wastes. For the direction of the court, though the administration becomes noticeably vibrant on evacuation of the illegal occupancy of the river, but no initiative can be noticed in terms of preventing the pollution. Recently, on August, the district administration has started cleaning the water-hyacinth from the river. Md. Saiful Islam, District Commissioner of Bogra inaugurated that program.
After the human chain, the whole program has ended by floating symbolic paper boats in the Korotoa River, adjacent to the Mohila College by the leaders of BAPA along with the students. In the program, the Joint Secretary of BAPA, Bogra Shahan-E-Jasmine Dorothi, Treasurer Jakia Sultana, Organizing Secretary M Fazlul Haque Bablu, Publication Secretary Moksed Ali, Executive members Sheikh Abu Hasnat Shahid, Rakibul Haque Khan, Amir Khashru Selim, Jahedur Rahman, Abdur Rashid etc. were also present.
Md. Najmul Haque, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board says, “Walkway and drain will be constructed on the both sides of the river. Water treatment plant will be built so that city’s dirty water cannot fall to the river directly.” The Water Development Board is continuously trying to excavating Korotoa River and evacuating illegal structures. These projects are waiting for approval, the Water Development Board officer said.