200-year-old pond being filled in Cumilla city violating law

Our Correspondent

CUMILLA, October 14: Cumilla had a reputation and tradition as a city of banks and tanks from time memorial. But the tradition of the city is going to disappear day by day.

In the last few years, most of the ponds in Cumilla have been filled up one after another.

Presently, a 200-year-old pond is being filled up here without any consideration of the Environment and Reservoir Conservation Act. The pond is known as Kazi Bari Pond or Kazi Pond to the locals. The pond is located in the western part of Kazipara area of Ward No. 20.

Already about half of the pond has been filled with soil.

Roads, residential houses and government primary schools are located on the bank of the pond.

Abdul Khaleq, a teacher of Pipulia School in Sadar Dakshin Upazila, is filling up the pond.

Dumping soil, Khaleq has filled about half of the pond for building houses and shops.

Local resident Shamsul Haque, 70, said we are seeing the pond from our early age. The pond may be about 200 years old. There is a dispute with two families over the property. Now they have resolved the dispute

Earlier fish was cultivated in this pond. During the monsoon season, the pond plays a role to alleviate waterlogging in the area. The residents used the pond for various purposes.

According to the reservoir conservation Act-2000, it is illegal to fill any pond-reservoir, river, canal etc. Under Section 5 of the Act, the classification of places identified as reservoirs cannot be changed.

Abdul Khaleq said, We need a new space for family members for building houses. I am filling half of the pond for myself. The pond has been abandoned for a long time. No one uses it".

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA) Cumilla district branch president Dr Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said filling the pond was completely illegal. Even if you have your own pond, no one can fill it. Filling of the pond should be stopped immediately and action should be taken against the fillers through proper enforcement of the law. We are looking into the matter, he added.

Shawkat Ara Kali, deputy director of the environment department, Cumilla, said he had received a complaint about the pond. "Then I asked the owner to stop filling. I will take necessary action in this connection.

Cumilla City Corporation Mayor Md. Monirul Haque Sakku said, " I don't know about the matter or no one has complained to me. However, there is no opportunity to fill the pond, it is completely forbidden. I will request the councillor to take necessary action immediately".