Published: 12:00 AM, 19 November 2016
Grabbing kills Dhaka rivers
Shitalakkhya River flowing beside the capital being grabbed due to lack of monitoring of the authorities concerned. -Photo: Jahidul Islam of The Asian Age
Four rivers--the Buriga-nga, the Turag, the Shitalakshya and the Balu flow surrounding the capital city of Dhaka--are on the verge of death due to continued pollution, encroachment, lack of dredging and illegal sand lifting.
The rivers are losing their might day by day, while the environment and biodiversity of the riverbed are being badly damaged. But, there is none to take proper and effective steps for the survival of the rivers, locals complain.
The government took initiatives to protect the rivers from encroachers several times, but to no effect due to unknown reasons. Immediately after the drives of the authorities concerned, the encroachers come back to their previous state.
It is revealed that around 250 acres of land of the rivers--Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakshya and Balu--have been grabbed by the influential quarters of the area by establishing residential buildings, industries, brick kilns, mobile towers, markets and shops on both sides of those rivers.
Some parts of the rivers have also been used for construction of road, river port and ship-building factories. Of them, highest infrastructures have been established in the Kamran-girchar and Bosila areas. Around 50 to 60 percent of lands in the area have been encroached by the influential persons under the nose of concerned authorities.
Besides, around 38 to 48 percent lands of the rivers near Abdullahpur, Gabtoli, Demra, Kanchpur and Narayanganj have been encroached. Around 12 km of both sides of the Buriganga from Bosila to Dhaleshwari as well as different parts from Kamrangirchar to Sadarghat areas have been grabbed by the influential people to establish different installations. Around 97.17 acres of land in 7.71 km from the Kamran-girchar to Bosila area have been grabbed.
On the other hand, polluting the rivers has now become a regular phenomenon. Dumping wastages and garbage from different residences and industries including tanneries of Hazaribagh area has remained unabated that spreads stink in the area. Consequently, movement in these areas has become tougher. People cross the area covering the nose to protect from bad smell, locals said.
Although some small boats still play in the Buriganga, the fishermen are rarely seen. Almost all the rivers dried up at the beginning of dry season. History reveals that once the Turag River was known as "Kohor Doria" to the locals. "Kohor Doria" means sea of pain or suffering. People gave the name as they used to suffer pains, while crossing large water body from Tongi to Ashulia. But, the sea of pain has now turned into a narrow canal.
The Balu is flowing through the north-eastern part of Dhaka. It meets Shitalakshya near Demra after flowing over the vast area of Dhaka's north-eastern side. At present, the movement of river transports has almost been stopped through the rivers due to lack of navigability.
Drastic fall of water has made the rivers dying. Lifting sand from the riverbed in unplanned way, making dams at different points, lack of dredging and dumping wastages in the water bodies are significant reasons behind their dying condition, locals claimed.
While visiting different parts of the rivers, locals have said the rivers are losing their charm, liveliness and tradition due to lack of care by the concerned authorities. If they take necessary steps to dredge these rivers and free from grabbers and polluters, the rivers will get back the past glory.
The rivers are losing their might day by day, while the environment and biodiversity of the riverbed are being badly damaged. But, there is none to take proper and effective steps for the survival of the rivers, locals complain.
The government took initiatives to protect the rivers from encroachers several times, but to no effect due to unknown reasons. Immediately after the drives of the authorities concerned, the encroachers come back to their previous state.
It is revealed that around 250 acres of land of the rivers--Buriganga, Turag, Shitalakshya and Balu--have been grabbed by the influential quarters of the area by establishing residential buildings, industries, brick kilns, mobile towers, markets and shops on both sides of those rivers.
Some parts of the rivers have also been used for construction of road, river port and ship-building factories. Of them, highest infrastructures have been established in the Kamran-girchar and Bosila areas. Around 50 to 60 percent of lands in the area have been encroached by the influential persons under the nose of concerned authorities.
Besides, around 38 to 48 percent lands of the rivers near Abdullahpur, Gabtoli, Demra, Kanchpur and Narayanganj have been encroached. Around 12 km of both sides of the Buriganga from Bosila to Dhaleshwari as well as different parts from Kamrangirchar to Sadarghat areas have been grabbed by the influential people to establish different installations. Around 97.17 acres of land in 7.71 km from the Kamran-girchar to Bosila area have been grabbed.
On the other hand, polluting the rivers has now become a regular phenomenon. Dumping wastages and garbage from different residences and industries including tanneries of Hazaribagh area has remained unabated that spreads stink in the area. Consequently, movement in these areas has become tougher. People cross the area covering the nose to protect from bad smell, locals said.
Although some small boats still play in the Buriganga, the fishermen are rarely seen. Almost all the rivers dried up at the beginning of dry season. History reveals that once the Turag River was known as "Kohor Doria" to the locals. "Kohor Doria" means sea of pain or suffering. People gave the name as they used to suffer pains, while crossing large water body from Tongi to Ashulia. But, the sea of pain has now turned into a narrow canal.
The Balu is flowing through the north-eastern part of Dhaka. It meets Shitalakshya near Demra after flowing over the vast area of Dhaka's north-eastern side. At present, the movement of river transports has almost been stopped through the rivers due to lack of navigability.
Drastic fall of water has made the rivers dying. Lifting sand from the riverbed in unplanned way, making dams at different points, lack of dredging and dumping wastages in the water bodies are significant reasons behind their dying condition, locals claimed.
While visiting different parts of the rivers, locals have said the rivers are losing their charm, liveliness and tradition due to lack of care by the concerned authorities. If they take necessary steps to dredge these rivers and free from grabbers and polluters, the rivers will get back the past glory.
