http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=35895
Daily Star, Dhaka, bangladesh
Sunday, May 11, 2008 01:14 PM GMT+06:00 EDITORIAL
By The Numbers - Rivers of poison
By A.N.M. Nurul Haque
THE four rivers that surrounded Dhaka city from four sides are
polluted by industrial wastes to a dangerous level. The rivers
Buriganga, Shitalyakha, Turag, and Balu have been so extremely
polluted that these have turned into the rivers of poison. The
poisonous waters of these rivers have not only been killing all its
aquatic life but also been posing health hazards to the dwellers of
the city.
The city of Dhaka was established by the Mughals on the bank of river
Buriganga in the early 17th centaury, considering the immense beauty
and potentiality of this river for growth of trade and commerce. Since
then the river Buriganga had been serving the people of Dhaka with all
of its resources and made this city a flourishing river port.
But the river Buriganga, which was once a mighty river of vigorous
flow, has now been turned into a septic reservoir, as about 22,000
cubic meters of toxic tannery wastes are directly dumped into it every
day. According to a survey, around 50 to 60% of pollution of Buriganga
is caused by lethal industrial wastes and the rest by domestic
wastewater.
The river Turag, the main tributary of the river Buriganga on the
northern side of the city, is being sacrificed to development as both
of its banks are grabbed for building construction and its water is
contaminated by lethal industrial wastes, making it one among many
rivers in the country to face environmental devastation.
With huge encroachments of its banks by the land grabbers and severe
contamination of its waters, the river Turag at Amin Bazar area in
Mirpur, looks so pathetic that it leads one to think that it is only a
matter of time for the river to die down.
Originating from the river old Brahmaputra, the river Turag has a
total length of 78 kilometres, out of which 23 kilometres flow along
the city. Not only the banks but also the bed of the river has fallen
to the greed of the land grabbers in the upstream near Ashulia and
Birulia who have erected huge structures at various points, grabbing
the river.
The river Shitalakhya, a major tributary of the river Buriganga on the
southern fringe of the city, is another cruel victim of huge
encroachments and severe pollution. The unabated dumping of industrial
wastes and sewage has polluted its water to such an extent that it is
impossible for any aquatic life to survive there. Its surface water
has turned pitch black and emits a foul smell.
The Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) and Aqua Consultant and
Associates surveyed and tested the water of Shitalakhya in 2006, and
recommended relocation of water intake point of Wasa from Sarulia
point of Demra as the water over there is severely polluted.
The river Balu, which has been flowing on the eastern side of the
city, is also being sacrificed to the greed of powerful people who
have grabbed both of its banks and bed. The river that once flowed in
abundance is now dwindling. The grabbing of its bed has gone to such
extent that, it has become quite difficult to recognise its existence
at many points. The waste emitted by the industries set up along the
river, has heavily polluted its almost stagnant waters.
The statistics available with the Department of Environment (DoE) say
that the number of polluting textile mills is 365, tanneries 198,
pharmaceutical units 149, engineering workshops 129, chemical and
pesticide factories 118, jute mills 92, rubber and plastic units 63,
food and sugar 38, paper and pulp 10, cement and fertiliser 5 each,
and distilleries 4.
According to the Environment Conservation Act 1995, each industrial
unit should have effluent treatment plants in order to get clearance
from the DoE, which is mandatory to get power and gas connections. The
caretaker government had directed the owners of the industries to
install ETP at their respective industries by October 31 last year.
But most of them defied the directive and the government did not take
any action against the violators.
The government also enacted Environment Court Act 2000 followed by the
amendment in 2002 in order to set up one or more environment courts in
each division with a view to deal with the environmental offences. But
the environment courts could not ensure speedy trial of environmental
cases because of negligence and insincerity of the DoE officials.
The water experts at a seminar held on April 30 said that the river
Buriganga can be saved by setting up an augmentation route through the
rivers Dhaleswari-Pungli-Bangshi-Turag-Buriganga. According to them,
an amount of Tk 616 crore is needed to implement the proposed 140
kilometre long augmentation route and Tk 6 crore will be required
every year for maintenance of the route.
Agriculture and Water Resources Adviser Dr. C.S. Karim said in the
seminar that Buriganga can be saved by transferring water from Jamuna
to it. But the experts differ with him. A project titled "Augmentation
of Buriganga's Flow by Restoring Silted up Links of Jamuna" was
initiated in FY 2004-05, but it was dropped later on.
The Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) carried out a feasibility study
in 2003, funded by Water Development Board, for augmentation of the
river Buriganga and suggested immediate relocation of Hazaribagh
tanneries. The IWM also suggested augmentation of the river by
channeling water into it from other rivers.
The rivers that surround the city of Dhaka are its lifeline. The total
population of Dhaka city grew from 100,000 in 1906 to 12 million in
2008. But the city authorities could not prepare and implement any
effective plan to keep the rivers free from pollution and
encroachment.
Ironically, indeed, encroachments and pollution of rivers have been
going unabated despite having at least 38 government bodies relating
to rivers. The caretaker government in a drive in July 2001 cleared
huge portions of encroached Buriganga, Turag and Shitalakhya rivers.
We really need a powerful body to free the rivers from the clutches of
the encroachers and polluters, instead of having so many non-
functional ornamental bodies. The government should realise the
gravity of the problem and take stern steps to save Dhaka from the
looming environmental disaster. Dhaka will be saved if its rivers are
saved.
The city has been experiencing acute water crisis. WASA's water
treatment plants are now using an excessive amount of chemicals to
make the water safe as the pollution of Buriganga and Sitalakhya has
gone to the extreme. Therefore, it is a burning need for the
government to make these rivers pollution-free to ensure water supply
in the city.
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