RAJSHAHI, Jan 11 (BSS): Existing surface water resources especially the Baranai River flowing through the northern part of the city is being heavily polluted and contaminated with disposal of wastes and toxic chemicals, scientists and researchers here said.
The crop fields surrounding the river are also being contaminated with wastes and the farmers using the river water for irrigation and the fishermen catching fish from the river are also facing health hazards like dermatitis and derma-toxicity.
The fish resources of the river are also being destroyed for the toxic water of the river.
Environment specialists in the city, however, opined that contamination of the river water can be checked through setting up water treatment plant and strict imposition of the Environment Preservation Law.
According to sources, the large number of people from various rural areas are rushing to Rajshahi city for various purposes, including seeking jobs, and working in the city's cottage and small industries.
At the same time, the multistoried buildings, small industrial units, hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres are also increasing in number in the city. From these sources as well as from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital a huge amount of toxic wastes is being disposed to nearby rivers through drains of Rajshahi City Corporation.
Moreover, untreated toxic effluent from the BSCIC industrial units and textile industries are also pouring through the city drains into the river Baranai.
Dr Redwanur Rahman, Associate Professor of Institute of Environmental Science of Rajshahi University, said there being no treatment plant for the wastes, the water of the surrounding city rivers is being contaminated.
From various drains and canals, all the contaminated wastes of the city are being disposed into the Baranai river through the Jhujkai and Duari canals. Because of disposal of the toxic wastes, the Baranai River and the surrounding water bodies are becoming fishless.
