A beauty spot turning into garbage bin

Potential left uncared ... Shokuni Lake can be a good recreation spot and a source for fish resources but it is being used for dumping garbage for many people in Magura town. PHOTO: STAR

Situated at the heart of the town, the lake was excavated in 1942 in 20 acres of land to dig earth for building the present Madaripur town as the old town was washed away by the Aral Kha river.

When the old sub-divisional town was facing extinction, the new town was built by collecting earth from nearby Shokuni village. The massive earth work turned the village into a beautiful artificial lake, now called Shokuni Lake.

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Before independence, there was a Shishu Park (children park) on the bank of the lake, which was a recreation spot for townspeople.

Even summer nights used to draw people in large numbers who would enjoy the breeze blowing from the south.

The park lost its beauty and attraction when the Ershad government in 1986 constructed the office of the police superintendent, ignoring protests by townspeople.

Over the years, the lake, owned by the district administration, has been encroached on many sides. It is now a place for dumping waste and breeding ground for germs, creating health hazard.

Most of the townspeople including the elite this correspondent talked to said the lake could be saved if it is handed over to the municipal authorities and the SP's office removed.

They said the lake can be turned into a beautiful spot again and fishes worth crores of taka can be produced annually if properly maintained.