CHATTOGRAM, June 05: Massive pollution coupled with unabated encroachment for long is posing a serious threat to the very existence of the Karnaphuli River and survival of its aquatic lives apart from laying harmful effects on human health.
Encroachment spree unleashed by the influential grabber-axis has narrowed down substantially the original size of the river that is being viewed as a major threat for the existence of the country's main seaport.
According to a research carried out by Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (VUET), the residents in Chattogram City Corporation area produce 3,000 tonnes of domestic waste every day of which plastic-polyethylene waste is 249 tonnes, or 8.3 per cent. Of these, 35.61 per cent of plastic-polyethylene waste is recyclable.
The 56.22 per cent uncollected (140 tonnes) plastic-polyethylene waste is not only the main reason for waterlogging in the city but also causing environmental disaster here.
In addition, rivers and canals are facing severe pollution due to these mismanaged plastic wastes. Even plastic particles are spreading in human, fish and various animal bodies.
The research was done by Pial Barua and Al Amin of the Civil Engineering Department of CUET. The research paper is titled 'Study on environmental pollution and adverse effects due to plastic-polyethylene waste and alternative use in road construction'.
On the other hand, the Karnaphuli River which is known as the lifeline of the country's economy is being narrowed day by day due to illegal occupation and siltation.
The river has lost around 500 metres of its land due to illegal occupation.
The district administration is yet to evict all 2,181 illegal establishments on the banks of the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram. The High Court served fresh directives to CPA on February 11 in 2019 to evict all illegal establishments from the banks of Karnaphuli within next three months and stop all utility services including gas, power, water from the illegal establishments.
Environmentalists, urban planners and conscious citizens have expressed their grave concern and resentment as no effective measures are being taken by the authorities concerned to stop pollution and illegal grabbing of the river by powerful quarters.
Professor Idris Ali, former teacher of the Chemistry Department of Govt Haji Mohammad Mohsin College, said, "Apart from losing continuously its original size following uncontrolled grabbing of the river banks and water areas , massive pollution for a long time has reached such an extent that the life of the river is now at stake and its total ecosystem is already at a total risk".
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