Photo shows the old Gomti river of Cumilla is almost dead — FE Photo CUMILLA, Oct 26: Illegal occupation and pollution has threatens the existence of the old Gomti river in Cumilla city.
Influential people are constantly occupying the river. After the occupation, shops and multi-storied buildings were built on the river banks.
Garbage is being dumped in this natural reservoir. When you go to the river bank, it seems that everyone is competing to occupy and fill the river! The river is now almost dead as sewage lines and garbage are dumped in different parts of the river.
Meanwhile, the district administration has compiled a list of 522 people who have occupied the two banks of the river in the last few years and set up illegal establishments. This list was first prepared in 2003. Since then, the administration has given more than 10 notices to the occupants to vacate the river. River property rescue operations are limited.
According to sources, the Gomti River originates at a place called Dumur in the northeastern hilly region of the Indian state of Tripura. The river flows through the state of Tripura and enters Bangladesh through the Cumilla-Bibirbazar border. The river then flows into Daudkandi in Cumilla and joins the Meghna River.
The river was also called the sorrow of Cumilla till the sixties of the last century due to its fullness in the rainy season. At that time during the monsoon the river water would flood Cumilla. At that time, the course of the river was changed following building of a dam in the sixties of the last century to save the city of Cumilla from floods. From that time onwards, people used to call the part of the river from Kaptanbazar in Cumilla Sadar to Chanpur-Shubhpur as Old Gomti. The length of the old Gomti is about six kilometers.
On a visit to Old Gomti river at Chanpur, Dumuria Chanpur, Shubhpur, Tikkarchar it was seen that most of the properties of the river were illegally occupied. Roads have been constructed for the movement of people with dams at five places on the river. Drains have been constructed for water circulation under the road. Various structures including multi-storied buildings have been constructed on both banks of the river.
Most of the people on both sides of the river are dumping garbage. The river water is black and smelly. Actually the existence of the river is now threatened. It can be said that the river is now almost dead.
Sources said that although the administration took steps to evict the illegal occupants from the old Gomti river, it was not implemented due to political and various reasons. An initiative was taken last year to free 258.74 acres of river property from illegal occupants by making an updated list. After receiving this news, the occupiers started various political and administrative lobbying to stop the operation. After that the administration could not rescue the river.
The list of occupiers of the river consists mostly of leaders and activists of different political parties. There are also local influential people. They have occupied the river and built houses and shops.
Omar Faruq, a resident of the local area, said that during the city elections in 2017, the current mayor announced to transform the old Gomti river into the capital's Hatirjheel. But he has not done anything yet. The people of Cumilla want the mayor's announcement to be implemented soon.
Bangladesh Environment Movement (BAPA) Cumilla President Dr. Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said, "We have carried out various programmes to protect the river." I have given a memorandum to the deputy commissioner and city mayor. However, even though there is law in the country, the law is not enforced. Due to which the list of river possession is getting longer. The administration has to go on campaign to protect the river.
Water Development Board, Cumilla Executive Engineer Md. Abdul Latif said, "We have made a list of illegal occupants."
That list has also been given to the district administration. We do not have enough manpower. Even then, I hope the district administration and we will be able to recover the river property in a short time.
Cumilla Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Mohammad Main Uddin said, "We are conducting regular operations to free the river from occupation."
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