last column aving rivers around Dhaka city

Khalilur Rahman Government efforts to save the four rivers - Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag and Balu - flowing around the metropolis through restoring their navigability are yet to make any headway. Ceaseless dumping of wastes, haphazard dredging and encroachment on these rivers continue unabated. A recent survey on the wetland around Dhaka city says that all such lands will cease to exist by next two decades if the encroachment continues at the present rate. Vast tracts of land in low-lying areas along the rivers, Buriganga, Shitalakhya, Turag, Balu and Dhaleshwari, are being filled up by the land grabbers. The filling of marshy tracts is being carried out with sand taken from the river Meghna. Influential people are engaged in developing the lands for housing projects, despite warnings issued by the government from time to time not to do so. Two years ago, the government had announced restoration of water flow in the rivers around Dhaka city, a halt to encroachment and pollution and eviction of illegal structures. The High Court also in a directive in June 2009 asked the government to stop river pollution and encroachment. Several months ago, as we reported in this column, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that her government has taken steps to protect the rivers around the metropolis. The Prime Minister also stressed the need for reducing dependency on underground water in agriculture. She observed that too much use of ground water increases risk of earthquake and said steps have een taken to use surface and rain water in agriculture. At a time when the country is facing the adverse impact of climate change, the prime minister's announcement of restoring rivers' navigability and also using surface water in cultivation is undoubtedly a welcome step. But, in reality, the work on restoring navigability of rivers around Dhaka city which started last year has failed to achieve its target. Finance Minister AMA Muhith in his budget speech in parliament on June 09 last had admitted that due to technical difficulties completion of work within the stipulated time was unlikely. The work was due to be completed by 2013. The government measure, he said, aimed at ensuring free flow of clean waters through improving environment, dismantling unauthorised constructions and restoring navigability of rivers. In the absence of sound planning and concerted efforts to maintain the rivers, canals and other water bodies during the last 40 years of our independence, the sources of surface water across the country have become almost dry. This has forced the authorities to sink deep tubewells in larger numbers for irrigation as well as drinking and other purposes. We are now heavily dependent on ground water. Over the years, the environmentalists and cross section of people are demanding of the government to save the rivers in the country as those are losing their depth at a faster pace and being occupied by land grabbers. The navigability of the rivers has fallen at an alarming rate. Nearly 90 % rivers in Bangladesh have already lost navigability. Withdrawal of water from common rivers through building dams on those by India has aggravated the situation and led to the closure of river routes either permanently or partially. Already considerable damage has been caused to aquatic life. The Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) with financial and technical assistance of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations conducted a survey on rivers early this year. The survey report reveals that about 100 species of fish have become extinct. Other reports suggest that a good number of fishes which are still available may go out of existence in the absence of proper measures. Particularly, in northern region of the country major rivers and their tributaries are in the process of drying up. The trade and commerce through the inland water route has been gravely affected. The river transports offer the cheapest means of communication for passengers and cargoes. Carrying of fertilizers, oil and other essential commodities by the rivers has become difficult, if not impossible. This, in turn, has enhanced the prices of various essential items due to increased costs involved in road transports. Under the circumstances, restoring rivers around Dhaka city as well as elsewhere in the country is a crying need of the hour. Any delay in implementation of the work on restoration of the rivers will further increase the use of our fast vanishing ground water which we must avoid at all costs. In fact, without a strong political will, it is not possible to keep the rivers free from pollution and encroachment. We believe that the government will do everything possible to redeem its pledge and save the dying rivers. (E-mail : khalilbdh@gmail.com)