Saving rivers from pollution

RIVERS are like blood streams in the body politic of a country. They keep us alive socially, economically and politically. But these rivers that constitute the life line of the country are at times appearing as threats to the land and its people not because of any fault of their own, but because of man made situation. Rivers are being increasingly polluted due to disposal of household and industrial wastes into their waters and thus posing threats for people and aquatic life. Another man made situation is that of encroachment of river banks for industrialisation and urbanisation. Industrial wastes not only pollute surface water, but underground water is also partly affected. Experts are of the view that if situation continues like this, the day is not far away when entire river water would be unfit for human use.

It is however heartening to note that recently the government has undertaken some action plans for industries located on river banks that include among other things installation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs). This will definitely go a long way to improve the situation of pollution and bring the rivers back to its pre-pollution stage once again.

Md. MonjururRahman

Student of Department of Political Science,

Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur

[email protected]