For rapid urbanization and illegal earth filling, the low-lying areas of the country including those around the capital city Dhaka, will be filled soon and there will be shortage of fresh water bodies.
Experts citing this as an emerging problem have urged the government to take immediate steps including eviction of illegal establishments to safeguard the low- land fresh water bodies.
According to a study, the area of water bodies and low-lying areas in and around Dhaka were 2952 hectares and 13528 hectares respectively in 1960, 2104 hectares and 12718 hectares respectively in 1988 and, 1991 hectares and 6415 hectares respectively in 2008.
Due to rapid construction work and illegal establishments, around 80 percent of low-land are already filled up. If the trend continues, the study showed, by 2030, 100 percent of the lowl-and will be totally lost.
Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) chairman Abu Naser Khan said, “Although Bangladesh is a riverine country, the normal flow of rivers, canals and beels is being severely hampered due to occupation, filling and contraction. Hence, the natural water reservoirs are rapidly declining”.
“As a result, water crisis goes high in the winter. Moreover, due to dumping of wastes including industrial wastes, pesticides / chemicals, antibiotics, water in the reservoirs is severely polluted, destroying the natural ecosystem and making it unfit for human consumption. This poses a serious threat to public health,” Abu Naser Khan added.
According to POBA study, there are 405 small and big rivers in this country. Of them, 56 are identical rivers, 54 are common with India and 3 are common with Myanmar. Of the country’s rivers, 48 are border rivers, 157 are baromasi rivers and 248 are seasonal rivers.
Due to human oppression, country’s rivers are in dying state. Occupancy, flooding, and dumping of waste are filling rivers and making them unusable and biodiversity is also facing extinction. Almost every river in the country is in same condition. The flow of water in the Teesta has been greatly reduced. Padma, Teesta are now almost dead, chars are rising in the Jumna. The Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Sitalakhya rivers are being occupied and filled up.
However, the POBA chairman said, “To increase the water holding capacity of our rivers, it is essential to remove the silt deposited at the bottom of the river through dredging. During the dry season, many of our rivers dry up and heavy vehicles pass through them. All these rivers can physically be excavated using our youths”.
The POBA chairman at the same time has also urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to prevent pollution of all rivers and water bodies including those around the Dhaka city.
