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Down to Earth

Buriganga in Dire Straits

By ASM Nurunnabi
A very ominous picture of various damaging activities on river Burlganga has emerged. The damaging scenario extends in so any directions that the very existence of the river seems to be at stake. From a re-port of the Department of Environment (DOE), it appears that the pollution of the river has passed the critical level. Tons of refuse and waste — domestic and industrial — pour into the river daily, raising the solidity level of the water at an alarming rate. The level of dissolved oxygen (DO) too has been de-Jileted to zero from four millgram per litre at various points of the river, whereas a minimum of six milligram of DO is necessary for survival of aquatic life.
Now the river is already becoming a dying water body.
The DOE survey report makes it quite clear why water pollution has turned so acute, industrial wastes and other pollutants are being dumped into the river freely from all sides. In this respect, one of the main culprits is represented by at least 277 tanneries in the city's Hazaribagh area from which a huge quantity of polluted and toxic water flows Into the river. Similarly, other industrial units situated along the river banks compound the intensity of water pollution.
Besides, onslaughts on the river are being carried on from other sources. Lately, we have seen pictorial reports of the large-scale encroachments on the river. Bamboo enclosures
on both sides of the river have occupied much of the space, leaving a very narrow strip in the middle of the river for navi-fjation. Hundreds of acres of and on the river-bed have been acquired by unscrupulous people by earth filling.
Situation In this respect is very critical In the area stretching from Kamrangir Char to Kamalbagh slums. At Kamrangir Char alone, more than two hundred bamboo structured units over the river have been built as a slum complex sprawling over a mile of area.
And a profitable business is being carried on by renting these makeshift bamboo rooms to low-income groups.
On the other side of the river opposite to the Mitford Hospital. a large wholesale depot for sale of bamboos has reportedly come up. Even opposite the Sadarghat launch terminal, a multi-storied market has been built on the waters of the river. Industrial plots are being laid out adjacent to the China Friendship bridge. Along the sides of the Salimullah Medical College Hospital on the river bank, bamboo hutments have been raised as slum dwellings.
Also incidence of unauthorised collection of tolls on both sides of the river and extortions by terrorist groups is rampant. As a result, a lawless and chaotic situation is reportedly existing. Due to this, people of the affected areas are passing their days in great distress.
It is understood that the en-cTOachers who allegedly operate Under the aegis of influential quarters are more concerned about their Immediate profit and have no idea of the geomorphology of the place or of the far-reaching damaging consequences of the criminal acts.
Now the DOE is understood to have come up with a plan to involve various government and private organisations to save Burlganga. we can still have some reasons to be opti mistlc about the fate of the river. For this, we need a well-organised and co-ordinated campaign, under which not only organisations but the Industries. factories and even individuals living here must be aware of their respective roles In saving the river. All the factories and industries releasing their waste and effluents must be made to install treatment plants as expeditiously as possible.
Side by side with a save-the-river campaign, legal actions should be undertaken, as opined by observers. Those who built unauthorised structures on the river or intending to do so should be made to face law without delay. According to observers. we nave lost enough time to restore the river’s health: now the pace has to be hastened both for the cleaning of its water and for plugging the sources of pollution. We all need to keep in mind that salvaging the river from the scourge of pollution is a matter of crucial importance.