No observable progress in stopping the dumping of waste in the Buriganga River, Dhaka, Bangladesh
There has been no distinguishable progress in preventing waste dumping in the Buriganga River. Dhaka WASA, Dhaka South City Corporation, industrial and shipping wastes have exceeded all water pollution levels.
The river has become a dumping ground for thousands of tons of waste. Aquatic animals and fish are lost. Aside from the pungent stench of water, the residents of the two banks are suffering from various diseases. The river’s bottom is ten feet deep in waste.
Field inspection revealed thousands of tons of waste dumping in the river Buriganga year after year by two agencies of the Ministry of Local Government, Dhaka WASA and Dhaka South City Corporation. As a result, at least 25,000 tons of waste are dumped in the Buriganga each year via the two organizations’ drains.
Another 10,000 tons of waste is dumped into the river by riverside industries—besides, various liquid waste mixing in the river from the vessels, including burnt oil. There are thousands of factories, including brickfields, on both the banks of the Buriganga.
Since the onset of the dry season, the people living along the river have suffered from various ailments, including skin and asthma. As a result, public health is under threat.
Chemical-mixed liquid wastes from hundreds of riverside factories and drainage wastes from WASA and City Corporations mix in the river water, spreading a black, pungent odor.
Excessive pollution endangers the survival of aquatic animals and fish. The lion’s share of waste belongs to two government institutions. Every day, hundreds of tons of WASA and City Corporation waste dumping into the Buriganga River without treatment.
Hundreds of polythene and plastic recycling factories located in the banks of the river of the capital, including Kamrangirchar, Islambagh, Posta, Lalbagh, more than two thousand drawing factories in the adjoining Keraniganj, and more than a thousand factories and hundreds of factories in Shampur, Pagla-Fatulla area are polluting the water mixed with chemicals in the river.
Despite dumping thousands of tons of waste from these institutions into the river year after year, the concerned agencies remain indifferent.
Furthermore, residents on both banks have left garbage on the river’s banks, turning it into a garbage dump. Experts have said that the Buriganga river exceeded the ‘standard’ pollution level.
WASA and City Corporation authorities have failed to set up any liquid waste treatment plant in Dhaka for waste treatment, despite the provision for wastewater discharge into the river after treatment. In addition, WASA’s only treatment plant at Pagla in Narayanganj has been useless for several years.
Char Kaliganj area traders Ali, Abul Hossain, Jasim Uddin, and several others said that the people here are restless due to the unbearable stench of river water.
The stench is spreading far and wide from the river bank. Moreover, cough, shortness of breath, various skin diseases are always there. Children and the elderly are facing more problems.
Abu Naser Khan, the convener of the Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), said, “The Ministry of Forests and Environment and concerned departments should take the maximum initiative to save the environment of Buriganga.
Among these initiatives, strict action has to take against the organizations that dump polluted waste in the environment and rivers. In addition, the government institutions polluting must also take appropriate, effective measures to prevent pollution. We need public awareness in this regard.”
“Several plants are underway for waste treatment of the WASA sewerage line. WASA is working day and night to complete the projects very soon. He hopes to be able to solve this problem quickly,” Abu Naser Khan added.
Dr. Manzoor Ahmed Chowdhury, Chairman of the National River Conservation Commission (NRCC), said, “Besides industries, WASA and City Corporation commit crimes by dumping waste in the river. They started the project ten years ago to treat Sewerage waste, but none of these projects has seen the light of day.
Meanwhile, biodiversity is damaging due to river pollution. The people of the riverbank are living miserable life. We will do everything needed to de-pollute the river. “
