The Mayur River is nearly dead because of waterlogging
The Mayur River is one of the sources of fresh water in Khulna city in Bangladesh. Two phases of excavation were carried out to relieve waterlogging in the city and restore the navigability of the river. In addition, work is currently underway on a project called Development of Drainage System worth TK 823 crore.
In 2014, a phase of excavation was carried out at a cost of about TK 6 crore to restore the life of the river. However, that initiative did not work. Then in 2022, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) took up another project of excavation of about 6 kilometers of the river at a cost of TK 7.59 crores.
The Mayur River’s navigability remains unrepaired due to unplanned excavation, encroachment, environmental ignorance, poor waste management, and lack of accountability, raising doubts about the benefits of excavation.
In addition to renovating a total of 21 kilometers of the river, starting from theBeel Dakatia and the Bhabadah to the last boundary of Mayur, Alutola, it is necessary to renovate the surrounding rivers and canals, including the Khuder Canal.
Concerns have been raised that dredging the Mayur River won’t be effective until the entire river is dredged, and water flow is restored. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) built a sluice gate at Alutola in Rupsa, Khulna in the 1980s to control the water flow of the Mayur River during the monsoon.
Basically, the existence of the Mayur began to be endangered since then. The sluice gate is closed most of the time. As a result, the water flow stops and silt accumulates at the bottom of the Mayur. Due to this, waterlogging occurs in the city even after a little rain.
City residents, environmentalists and everyone concerned believe that digging only six kilometers will waste all the money as always, but nothing will be done, so the entire 21 kilometers need to be dug for permanent completion.
The River Protection Commission, along with the Ministry of Land of Bangladesh, BWDB, KCC, Department of Environment (Bangladesh), and other relevant parties, should divide and coordinate their tasks to achieve better outcomes. The river can come back to life.
