Someone for the Gulshan lake?
Friday, 6 January 2012
The Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake, one of the largest water bodies of the capital, is dying. Choked by weeds and garbage, it is no longer attractive to the eye as the lake has been reduced to almost a drain. Conservation of water bodies is a major issue all over the world. But rampant encroachment has been gobbling up large portions of the lake, while acute pollution has been destroying its aquatic life endangering the ecological balance. Encroachers have also lowered the level of the groundwater of the surrounding Gulshan and Banani areas and adversely affected the water supply.
The lake is on the verge of extinction. In 2000, VSBL was appointed as a consultant of the "Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara-Uttara Lake Development Project" by the Rajdhani Unnyan Kortipokkho (RAJUK) -- the capital city development authority -- but RAJUK terminated the project just after a preliminary process profile of the whole project was finalised. In June last year, VSBL was again awarded a project to develop the lake but this time round all the previous vacant plots were found filled up with newly constructed structures. The RAJUK itself encroached on the lake and from 2003-2006 sold more than 55 plots. It also constructed some walkways around the lake.
Reportedly, the RAJUK has never revealed the actual size of the lake. But Dr Mujibur Rahman, Professor of Civil Engineering (Environment) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was reported to have said the lake was once inter-connected through canals but encroachment on the banks of canals has considerably reduced its size. However though the links have been severed, the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake still plays an important role in nurturing the eco-system of the surrounding area and acts as a water retention basin during the monsoon.
The lake's biodiversity adds to its scenic beauty. But, rampant pollution is now completely changing its scenario as industrial waste from Tejgaon area is being dumped into the lake everyday. Furthermore, Dr Rahman of BUET was reported to have noted that even household wastes can cause acidification as there is a natural process of pollution. This happens when weeds cover the entire stretch of a water body. In many parts of the lake, this process has already taken place. As there is no sewerage system in the Badda and Baridhara areas, the lake has also become a dumping ground for domestic wastes.
Although Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) has been assigned the task of conducting a feasibility study on forming an alternative sewerage place and the RAJUK has reportedly asked the land ministry to recover the banks of the lake from encroachers, there is little likelihood of saving it.
Mohitul Islam
Gulshan, Dhaka
The lake is on the verge of extinction. In 2000, VSBL was appointed as a consultant of the "Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara-Uttara Lake Development Project" by the Rajdhani Unnyan Kortipokkho (RAJUK) -- the capital city development authority -- but RAJUK terminated the project just after a preliminary process profile of the whole project was finalised. In June last year, VSBL was again awarded a project to develop the lake but this time round all the previous vacant plots were found filled up with newly constructed structures. The RAJUK itself encroached on the lake and from 2003-2006 sold more than 55 plots. It also constructed some walkways around the lake.
Reportedly, the RAJUK has never revealed the actual size of the lake. But Dr Mujibur Rahman, Professor of Civil Engineering (Environment) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was reported to have said the lake was once inter-connected through canals but encroachment on the banks of canals has considerably reduced its size. However though the links have been severed, the Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake still plays an important role in nurturing the eco-system of the surrounding area and acts as a water retention basin during the monsoon.
The lake's biodiversity adds to its scenic beauty. But, rampant pollution is now completely changing its scenario as industrial waste from Tejgaon area is being dumped into the lake everyday. Furthermore, Dr Rahman of BUET was reported to have noted that even household wastes can cause acidification as there is a natural process of pollution. This happens when weeds cover the entire stretch of a water body. In many parts of the lake, this process has already taken place. As there is no sewerage system in the Badda and Baridhara areas, the lake has also become a dumping ground for domestic wastes.
Although Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) has been assigned the task of conducting a feasibility study on forming an alternative sewerage place and the RAJUK has reportedly asked the land ministry to recover the banks of the lake from encroachers, there is little likelihood of saving it.
Mohitul Islam
Gulshan, Dhaka