Combating river pollution
The government should take sustained measures for the protection of rivers and water bodies from pollution and grabbing in
no time
The department of environment (DoE) recently fined Tk 32 lakh against 10 factories and one individual for polluting environment and selling polythene bags illegally. This is indeed a bold step. According to a report in this newspaper yesterday, the DoE director (enforcement) summoned the nine factory owners and one individual to appear before the court at Agargaon. He fined them after the hearing.
Environmental pollution is going on unabated in different places of the country. Dumping of industrial effluents into rivers and water bodies is the main cause of this pollution. None cares for protection of environment as if it is nobodys business. There is no denying the fact that industrial growth is contributing to environmental pollution. It is the responsibility of the relevant authorities to keep watch so that industrial pollution does not cross the limit.
As lungs in human body play a dominant role in the act of respiration, so do the rivers and water bodies play a vital role in protecting the countrys environment, bio-diversity flora and fauna. There was a time when the rivers of the country could boast of various indigenous fishes that would meet the demand for nutrition of the people. But many of these fish species have gone extinct due to widespread pollution and grabbing of rivers by a section of influential people.
The rivers and water bodies around Dhaka are shrinking day by day. Encroachers are enjoying heydays in grabbing them. Influential people and a section of dishonest government officials are abetting the crime in exchange for bribes. Many rivers in the country have died untimely deaths; some are mere shadows of their former self while some are gasping for breath. Once there were many canals in Dhaka city. Those have been grabbled and filled up by the land sharks. Residential and commercial buildings have been constructed on those canals. Unplanned and uncoordinated urbanisation has taken its toll on the water bodies. This is a blow to the countrys environment.
This malpractice cannot be allowed to go on. The government should take sustained measures for the protection of the rivers and water bodies from pollution and grabbing in no time. The encroached water bodies should be recovered and the grabbers must be brought to justice. The dried up and silted rivers and water bodies can be brought back to life by dredging and other means. Vigilance should also be maintained so that in future no water body is grabbed further. There is no alternative to protecting the water bodies for our healthy survival.
