A Flowing River Brings a Healthy Human Life

 

Imagine a river with fresh water flowing from upstream to downstream. Many people live along its banks, and the river serves as the central point of their livelihoods. Fish that are growing in the river provide communities with the protein they require. Riverwater is used for drinking, bathing, washing, and even cooking. The river encompasses some of the traditional cultural activities that are held in the communities. Children are playing in the river’s offshore area, and occasionally, they gather fruits from the adjacent bushes that are growing on the riverbanks for a group to enjoy eating. People in communities are content and pray for the river, which is essential for their survival.

Health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and others were unheard. They were contentedly living generation after generation, and they perceived life as a never-ending circle of happiness.  A morning a mud wave hit a settlement of the Krenak tribe that lives along the Doce River’s banks. The reverse of what you initially thought. A local claimed that if she did not leave for work at that moment, her life would have ended. She believes that since then, their lives have been filled with struggle, and they are unsure of when they will come to an end. 

Samarco, a joint venture between the mining companies BHP and Vale, which produces iron ore in Brazil, owned the dam. In order to compensate for losses and damages and to lessen the environmental repercussions of the accidents, BHP, along with Vale and Samarco, formed the Renova Foundationin Brazil. According to BHP spokesperson, the foundation has donated more over $6bn to all impacted communities, but the victims say this is insufficient.

Still, the river is contaminated with heavy metals. Fish are no longer present, Kids no longer go there to play, and there is a foul odour everywhere. Neighbours living near the river are experiencing significant shortages of clean drinking water.

People live in a tent. They use contaminated water for all purposes. They increasingly consume processed meals, which are the root causes of complicated disorders like diabetes and hypertension. It is undeniable individuals are a part of nature. People lived in peace and were free from complicated ailments when nature was at its best. One resident said the tragedy made their lives unpleasant, and they are now dispersed. They were united and lived a beautiful life together just a few years ago.

Let’sexamine the problem once more: how environmental damage caused by man-made disasters has a significant influence on people's lives. The river, which was the community's lifeblood for survival, is now one of their worst features.The local environment, which includes fish, plants, trees, shrubs, and crops, is being destroyed by contaminated water.People depend on plants and fish for their nourishment, which aren't present there.People rely on outside sources for their food and water. But how can the air be restored if it has been tainted by pollution? People are unable to quickly modify their environment. Based on where they come from, their culture, beliefs, and customs have developed. They typically find it difficult to relocate.

Some others have already been relocated to rental homes by the foundation that was established for the victims' recovery. They are unhappy there and have little hope for a better future. Many individuals have died from heart problems and other complications, according to one of the experts involved in rehabilitation. Two of them killed themselves.

Let's now examine the state of Bangladesh's waterways. The history of the nation's rivers and human habitat spans a century. The majority of the country's major cities are found around riverbanks. The sole means of connection for trade and commerce in antiquity were rivers. Many nations came to us, both to rule over us and to take use of our resources.

We are an independent nation. Our economy in South Asia is expanding quickly, but rivers are disappearing day and night. A yearlong research by the Rivers and Delta Research Centre found that practically all rivers are polluted by hazardous wastes from industrial regions and sewage lines, as well as by petroleum discharge from ships, launches, cargoes, boats, and other watercraft. This conclusion is quite worrying.

Economic growth is largely dependent on access to clean water. Water pollution threatens the health of people and the environment, lowers food production, and worsens poverty in many nations. According to a World Bank analysis, the absence of clean water reduces economic growth by a third.
In their farming, our farmers use nitrogen as a fertiliser. In water that combines with pond, river, stream, and ocean water, this nitrogen turns into nitrate. Water with nitrates is always of poor quality. Using nitrate water puts a child at risk for developmental problems from childhood through adulthood. According to a World Bank analysis, every additional kilogramme of nitrogen fertiliser per acre might result in up to a 19% rise in childhood stunting and a 2% reduction in future adult wages compared to those who are not exposed.

The basic right to live and enjoy one's life belongs to every individual. We support development that prioritises the health of the environment and people over the needs of a select few. Environment is an issue that affects everything, including humans, and is not exclusive to any one nation, neighbourhood, or civilization. To prevent man-made disasters, we should exercise caution before initiating any development activities. We do not want to hear another tale like this!
 

Mahiul Kadir is a professional
in the field of water
development.