There are at least 200 sewer pipes and drain lines on both sides of the Chitra River and Haq Canal flowing past the Chitalmari upazila in Bagerhat.
Although the river and canal are being excavated under the auspices of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), no initiative has been taken to remove the sewer drains.
As a result, environmentalists think that the grand initiative of this excavation project taken at a cost of Tk 255 crore, will fail.
According to relevant sources, the excavation work of 55 canals including three rivers started at the end of 2019 under Bagerhat BWDB. The cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 255 crore. Although most of the canals and rivers have already been dug, at present the excavation work of the dead Chitra River and Haq canal flowing through Chitalmari Upazila Sadar is in progress.
However, the sewer pipes and drain lines on both sides of the river and Canal, covering an area of two kilometers in the Upazila Sadar alone, is polluting the environment in a terrible way. Residents on both sides of the river and canal expressed outrage over not removing the sewers as the canal was dug.
Therefore, environmentalists apprehend that if the sewer pipes and drain lines that are polluting the environment are not removed from the river and canal are not, the grand initiative of this excavation project taken by the government at a cost of Tk 255 crore will fail eventually.
Numerous people living on the banks of Chitra River said that they were happy to see the progress of the project at the beginning, but now they are frustrated that the sewers and drain lines were not been removed. As a result, the water is no longer usable.
Moreover, many people throw all their garbage in the canal as there is no one to stop them. Locals called for immediate action to stop them as they are committing serious crimes against environment while, the people of this upazila are in dire need of water.
Concerned citizens believe that a nationwide environment pollution is going on unabated due to the indifference of the related authorities putting the environment under extreme threats. Effective steps must be taken to stop these activities immediately and action must be taken against those involved, they opined.
However, Chitalmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Maruful Alam urged those involved in such activities not to pollute the river and canal. “Otherwise we will take necessary action against them under the Environmental Pollution Prevention Act”, he added giving a warning.