As much as 70 per cent of low-lying areas and wetlands around the capital had been filled up in the past 58 years, green activists said yesterday.

Besides, 1.2 billion people were now exposed to flood risks, while 1.8 billion lived under the threat of land erosion and desertification around the world, they noted.

The activists were speaking at a organised a roundtable, organsied by Poribesh Bachao Andalan (POBA), to mark World Water Day. The discussion, chaired by POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan, was held at the environmental group's Kolabagan office in the city.

Prof. Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, head of the environmental science department of Stamford University,

Anwar Hossain, president of the Bangladesh Safe Water Movement (BSWM), MA Wahed, general secretary of BSWM, Shuvo Karmaker, project officer of the WBB trust, Toyeb

Ali, general secretary of NASF, and Elias Haider, founder of Setu Sangha, among others, spoke on the occasion. POBA general secretary Abdus Sobhan presented a keynote

paper on water crisis, wetlands and the present scenario.

The speakers said the water crisis was getting worse day by day due to environmental problem and climate change across the globe. Besides, flood, drought, water supply and pollution were increasing due to destruction of forests, arable lands, rivers and low-lying areas, they added.

They observed that it would be very difficult to supply necessary life-saving water if the eco-system was ignored. Water crisis, therefore, should be resolved through natural ways, they said. To protect the environment and rivers, they suggested creation of huge forestry and reclamation of grabbed forests and wetlands.  Stringent laws must be enforced against encroachers, they emphasised. “The capital city and its surrounding areas were once rich with natural resources and lush green spots. But now, Dhaka has become uninhabitable due to destruction of green space. The city’s temperature is also rising every day,” Abdus Sobhan said in his keynote paper.

Referring to a research paper, Abdus Sobhan said: “There were 2,952 hectares of wetlands and 13,528 hectares of low-lying areas in and around Dhaka in 1960. The wetlands declined to 2,104 hectares and low-lying areas to 12,718 hectares in 2008. Around 70 per cent wetlands and low-lying areas have been filled up till 2018.” He expressed worry that if the present trend of grabbing continued, there would be no wetlands and low-lying areas around the city by 2030. Around 70 per cent water is now being used for irrigation purposes around the globe, he said, adding that 20 per cent is used for industrial and power generation and 10 per cent for drinking purposes. He suggested creation of water reservoirs by dredging rivers and wetlands so that people can use such water during the dry season.