Buriganga again

The causes of it all can be grouped into two major categories. On the one hand frenzied waste dumping on both sides of the river including untreated toxic pollutants from the riverside factories have bereft the river of all its nutrient values. Second the unbridled encroachment of riverbanks and construction of factories, shops, launch yards and houses thereupon have literally stifled its flow. In addition the long term neglect of riverbed dredging has so raised the bottom as to make the river non-navigable in several areas. We are witnessing the literal throttling of the river that was and is our lifeline. The government has been callously negligent of the disastrous environmental and public health consequences of Buriganga's gradual and unrelenting decline.

We are aware that an inter-ministerial Task Force was formed at the directive of the Prime Minister. We are also aware that following several meetings numerous decisions were taken and some of them were also implemented. We in the print media welcomed the destruction of several illegal structures on the riverbanks as a result. However, the efforts of the Task Force did not seem to have any effect either on the illegal occupiers, as they soon returned, and on the level of pollution of Buriganga. When an inter-ministerial Task Force fails to deliver what hope can we have of the government being ever effective in this effort? May we once again draw the attention of the Prime Minister to save us from the impending disaster?

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source