The Padma pollution is increasing with the dumping of solid and liquid waste
By Adnan Mahfuz
Bangladesh: The river Padma flowing in strong current along the side of Rajshahi is getting polluted. Both solid and liquid wastes of the city are being dumped in the river without any hesitation.
These wastes are mixed in the river water. Those who are researching on the river in Rajshahi are worried that if pollution and encroachment/ occupation are not stopped now, it will have a substantial impact on the livelihood of the people of the Barind region.
It has been observed that solid rubbish like broken tiles of houses and pieces of abandoned concrete are also being dumped along the river banks. The attitude of occupying the river is working behind the dumping of such solid waste.
This view is more transparent across the dam to protect the city. In the meantime, several structures have been built in the city’s protection dam. Everyday household waste is being dumped in the Padma River from the houses in the areas near the Padma inside the city.
In particular, Bulanpur, Keshabpur, Srirampur, Kumarpara, Sekher Chowk, Panchabati, Talaimari, and Shyampur areas are adjacent to the city protection dams and rivers, so all the household waste is dumped in the Padma River.
Apart from this, various types of restaurants have been set up at Pathanpara, Dargapara, Barakuthi, Srirampur, and other places of the city protection dam. All types of plastic and polythene and waste from these restaurants are dumped directly into the Padma River. Besides, the city’s liquid waste also falls into the Padma River through five sluice gates.
However, the Department of Environment did not show any headache. The government has failed to test even two bottles of water in the last three months, despite trying to take action in an “environmental pollution” incident. Last August, on the Eid-ul-Adha, a seasonal trader could not sell the leather and threw it into the river, Padma out of grief.
The Department of Environment rushed the next day after receiving the news.
Action has been announced against him for polluting the environment by dumping this skin. But the two bottles of water were collected to find out how much damage has been done to the environment.
The water was supposed to test in Bogra. But local officials at the Department of the Environment have repeatedly said they have not yet received the results of the water test.
When the Department of Environment is in this situation, water pollution is going on near the city due to various reasons. Subashi Das of Kumarpara area of the city said that the waste vehicles of the city vans vehicles are not found.
Besides, all the garbage of the house was dumped in the Padma River as the City Corporation van waste vehicle do not enter the alley. Dirt was also dumped freely in the T-dam in front of Keshabpur police line.
There are plastic cups, bottles, and polythene lying across the dam. Golam Rasul has been running a corner shop on the dam for ten years. He said the waste had been dumped in the Padma River for a long time.
Earlier, the city corporation sometimes used to clean the dirt. The people of the corporation have not come for six months. They used to clean before. Now plastic cups, bottles, polythene, and paper sticks are all dumped in the Padma River.
Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Professor of Geology and Mining, University of Rajshahi, said that out of the liquid waste that falls into the river Padma through the sluice gate from the city, more harmful substances had been found in the liquid waste in Dargapara area.
As a result of these wastes, water pollution of the Padma River is increasing. As a result, aquatic biodiversity in the Padma will be threatened.
Because it has already been seen that the liquid waste of the city has also fallen in the Baranai river of Paba Upazila of Rajshahi and the aquatic biodiversity, there has been destroyed.
Aquatic animals, including fish from the Barnai, have significantly been reduced. Mizanur Rahman, Chairman of Save Nature, said, ‘Plastic waste and polythene bags are the worst for the Padma River. These are increasing the pollution of river water.
The Padma is reducing the biodiversity of the river. We are not getting any benefit from the movement to reduce the use of polythene.
Mizanur Rahman, a professor in the Department of Geography and Ecology University of Rajshahi, said, “I studied the liquid waste of the city corporation going through the sluice gate of the Water Development Board in the Padma River a few years ago. The level of pollution is extensive. And it is growing.
Earlier, dolphins were seen in the Padma River, but now they are no longer seen. The amount of fish has also been significantly reduced. Besides, the use of the Padma river water in agriculture is also increasing health risks. Because research has shown that the use of water from the river Padma in agriculture has found the presence of metals in agricultural land.
