Shyamasundari canal at Rangpur, Bangladesh, is dying due to encroachment and pollution
Shyamasundari Canal is known as the lung of Rangpur City. Its depth was more than 40 feet. Due to long encroachment and pollution, dumping of household waste, and lack of proper maintenance, the canal has turned into a garbage dump. The canal, which was dug to protect the environment, has now become a cause of environmental pollution.
A few years ago, all the city’s water used to flow through this canal and fall into the Khoksa Ghaghat River. Now this canal is dying. As the water flow is stopped, even a little rain causes flooding in the city.
It takes two-three days for this water to come down. As a result, 2 million city dwellers suffered. The city’s residents will face chronic and severe flooding if the canal dies.
In this situation, Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mustafa has sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s help to protect Shyamasundari Canal.
Prof. Abu Saleh Mohammad Wadudur Rahman (Tuhin Wadud) of the Bangla Department of Begum Rokeya University has been researching Shyamasundari Canal and Teesta River for a long time.
Expressing the fear of being affected by prolonged flooding in the future, he said, “Shyamasundari canal is the only water drainage point in Rangpur city. It is now a dump.
Canal space is being occupied day by day. Household waste is falling into canals. If the water flow is not increased by re-digging, there will be flooding in the city throughout the year.”
According to local historians, many people died in Rangpur due to an outbreak of mosquito-borne malaria in the late 19th century. Among them was Maharani Shyamasundari of Rangpur.
After her death, her son Raja Janaki Vallabh took the initiative to dig a canal in Rangpur City to combat mosquito breeding. He dug the canal and named it after his mother. Since then, the canal has been known as Shyamasundari.
According to residents, the City Corporation dug this 16 km long canal in 1890. Initially 60 to 100 feet wide, it has now become a narrow canal. Its water has turned black with a pungent stench; the garbage piled the canal.
According to local sources, the canal originates from the Ghaghat River in the Kellaband area of the southwestern part of Rangpur.
It flows through 14 out of 33 City corporation’s wards, including Pasharipara, Keranipara, Munsipara, Engineerpara, Palpara, Gomstapara, Senpara, Tetultala, Mulatol, Bairagipara and Falls into the Khoksa Ghaghat river. It flows over KD canal in the Mahiganj area of Rangpur city.
City Corporation sources show some canal parts were re-excavated in 2009-10. But later on, the residents beside the canal occupied various places. Household garbage and city waste also started to be dumped into canals. These wastes have turned the canal into a mess.
Residents around the canal say most houses on both sides are lined with latrines. Household waste goes into the canal. It has poisoned the water. The entire canal has turned into a drain.
Now, it has filled most of the places of the canal. The depth is reduced to 5-7 feet in areas without filling. Now it is a curse for the townspeople.
Because the canals get filled up, the rain causes flooding in the city. Water enters the house. The city dwellers suffered. There is no option but to re-excavate and de-encroach the canal.
