With the onset of winter, waters of rivers, canals and lakes surrounding Dhaka are becoming heavily polluted and spreading foul odour all around.
The pollution level of all the water reservoirs in the capital has reached a very high level and emitting such an unbearable stench that pedestrians and people visiting river banks or lake areas feel serious discomfort.
Experts say that unabated dumping of assorted garbage, reduced water flow during winter, mixing of industrial and sewerage waste in the water are the main reasons for the bad smell.
They suggested cleaning garbage from water reservoirs, stopping dumping of waste in the rivers and canals and biological treatment of water to remove the malodour.
While visiting different canals, lakes and rivers surrounding the city, this correspondent found the colour of the water in these reservoirs jet black and continuously spreading foul odour.
Arifur Rahman, a visitor from Gazipur to Hatirjheel Lake said, “I have come here with my family as Hatirjheel is a tourist spot. Infrastructure surrounding Hatirjheel is like in a developed country. But, I am extremely frustrated as the water of Hatirjheel is constantly spreading stench. We cannot breathe properly. The authority must take measures to remove the odour.”
Malodour is also spreading in surrounding areas from Dhanmodi Lake and Gulshan Lake.
While visiting Manda, Mughda, Khilgaon-Basabo, Badda-Shahjadpur, Maniknagar, Mirpur, Madartek and Hazaribagh, the correspondent found water flows in different canals in these areas have turned into drains and spreading bad smell continuously.
Rebeka Sultana, a housewife who lives beside Manda canal said, “Every day our living room is engulfed with odour from the Manda canal. We cannot breathe properly. People are dumping waste in this canal. The situation is worsening day by day, but the authorities seem not to take any measure to improve the quality of the water.”
Lakhs of people live in Tongi area on the bank of Bank of river Turag. Besides, thousands of people use Tongi Bridge every day to go their destination and face the foul odour from the Turag.
Mizanur Rahman, who works at a private company in Gulshan and comes to Dhaka from Tongi every day, told Bangladesh Post, “The water of Turag was slightly better during the rainy season. But, the water of this river is now dark black and spreading a stench in its surrounding area. I have to put a handkerchief on my nose to get rid of the smell.”
The pollution of river Buriganaga is also high. Contaminated and odorous water from surface drains and sewerage line is responsible for this pollution.
According to compliance report of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), which had been submitted to the High Court recently, there are 68 underground drains and sewerage lines connected to the Buriganga River.
Abu Naser Khan, Chairman of Save the Environment Movement (POBA) told Bangladesh Post, “Rivers and canals around the capital have become like drains now and have lost their flow of water. Dumping of solid waste, industrial waste and sewerage waste must be stopped.”
About the water reservoir, he said, “Reservoirs like Hatirjheel Lake, Dhanmondi Lake must get biological treatment to reduce odour. The garbage and biomass have rotted in the reservoir water and are spreading stench continuously.”
He also said that the government must take strong measures to protect canals, rivers and water reservoirs from extinction.
Many canals of Dhaka do not exist anymore whereas the remaining ones are struggling for survival owing to encroachments and dumping of assorted garbage.
About 40 years ago, Dhaka city was blessed with the flowing of fresh water of more than 50 canals. But half of those canals are gone due to unabated grabbing by different entities, pollution and negligence of their protectors.
According to a 2004 report of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), there were about 46 canals in the government list at the time. Now, only 26 canals exist in reality in a moribund condition, while most of them have lost their water flow.
