Once upon a time, Rajshahi city was termed as the city of ponds but even within the last one decade, more than 97 percent ponds of the city have been filled up and high-rise buildings have been constructed there. At present, the number of ponds in the city has been reduced to less than 200, revealed at an exchange of views with the local journalists and elites organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Ainjibee Samity at a local restaurant on Wednesday.
The exchange of views entitled,'Dos in preservation and restoration of ponds and water bodies in existential crisis in Rajshahi city' was presided over by Dr Dipakendranath Das, President of Sacheton Nagorik Committee, Rajshahi, where Abdul Jalil, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi addressed as the chief guest.
Speakers at the function mentioned, a great festivity of filling up ponds in the city is now continuing. According to information from the Boalia Land Office in Rajshahi, there were more than 1,000 ponds under Rajshahi city area in 2014; now the number has reduced to less than 200.
Now, it is difficult to manage water nearby to douze any fire in the city. That is why people of Rajshahi are going to face a hazardous crisis. The speakers further mentioned, even the state owned ponds of the city have been filled up. They seek cooperation from the administration and a concerted effort from all to stop filling up the city ponds immediately. They opined it was extremely necessary to retain water reservoirs because the rainfall in Rajshahi has been reduced to less than half than the average rainfall in the country. Moreover, the subterranean water level is also depleting fast. Under such a situation, they mentioned that there was no alternative but to preserve the ponds and water-bodies of the city.
Among others, the function was addressed by Secretary of RCC Mashiur Rahman, Professor of the Department of Environmental Science Institute of RU Dr Redwanur Rahman and Assistant Director of the Department of Environment of Rajshahi Kabir Hossain.