Hakaluki haor disaster
The government
should locate the source of the chemical while unearthing the truth behind the natural disaster as quickly as possible
Deaths of fish, ducks, frogs, fowl, etc. in the hundreds as an aftermath of floods in the Sylhet regions Hakaluki wetland due to the onrush of water from mountain streams is a new phenomenon altogether. Though Bangladesh has never experienced a calamity of mysterious nature before, but the concerned environmental authorities, by now, should have identified the actual reason behind the disaster. We have marked a number of stark contradictions concerning the cause of this environmental disaster between local authorities in Sylhet and environmental authorities. However, so far none of the two could confirm and scientifically prove what had caused the disaster in one of the countrys most important and biggest wetlands.
According to a former high official of the Department of Environment (DoE), it is indeed an unprecedented natural calamity but it is also not true that the disaster had occurred due to rotten paddy in any way. Only high levels of chemical contamination can cause such immense damage to the aquatic world.
Concerning the heated argument on the degree of pH levels, fish and other aquatic creatures can survive between pH levels 6 and 8.5 and even a higher. We have reportedly seen the presence of fish and other aquatic life in the Buriganga at Shyampur even at pH level 10. However, the government should locate the source of the chemical while unearthing the truth behind the natural disaster as quickly as possible. Moreover, it must also take up strict preventive measures so as to deter the repetition of such unanticipated calamities.
Environmental experts have ruled out the possibility of rotten paddy causing the deaths of fish and ducks in the countrys biggest wetland, as they reportedly believe that either toxic metal elements flowed into the Haor from the upstream or were released from the Haors nearby areas.
This view sounds plausible since an organic crop like the paddy is not proven to be a lethal component for claiming aquatic or wildlife. Also, rotten paddy is actually consumed by many creatures of the aquatic world. Most importantly, if rotten paddy actually had claimed the deaths of fish and nearby wildlife then it would have been an established fact approved by environmentalists. Additionally, possibility of other conspiracy theories should be analysed too.
However it is expected that the five-member team from the Botany department of Dhaka University, led by a Professor and the Fisheries Research Institute would be able to reveal their findings on separate notes tracking down the culpable parties. Our natural wetlands are naturally and geographically important and we must prevent their destruction and their aqua life at any cost.
