Save Karnaphuli
Photo: R S C Anjan / Driknews
The Karnaphuli River, considered as the lifeline to business activities for both the hill people and the plain land population in the country's far east region, is dying due to mindless encroachment, dumping of industrial and clinical wastes and lack of maintenance. Encroachment of the riverbanks, unabated dumping of industrial, clinical and human wastes, unplanned fishing, unchecked oil spill from ocean-going vessels and mechanized boats have severely polluted the river. The river has been desecrated. What is flowing there is mainly sewage and polluted water. Increasing toxicity caused by industrial wastes has destroyed the natural purity of the river water. Many study on the river said, 15-20 fish species of fresh water, 10-15 fish species of brackish water (mixed zone of fresh and saline water) and 5-6 fish species of migratory water disappeared over the years from the river due to severe pollution of its water. Many known species of marine fishes have already disappeared from the estuary of the Karnaphuli and others might be extinct soon if the abodes of aquatic creatures are not protected by reviving the water quality for the creatures. According to researchers, in 1976, at least 76 species of fish used to be found in the Karnaphuli river. At present, there are only 54 species of fish in the river. The river water contains substantial quantity of industrial pollutants as more or less 730 industrial units of different categories on its both banks drain out their untreated residue into the river apart from urban sewage and substances extremely hazardous for aquatic lives. The Karnaphuli river receives approximately 760 metric tons of untreated sewage a day apart from nearly 200 metric tons of industrial residue. The contaminated river water, experts say, is not only destroying the marine resources but also causing adverse impacts on socio-economic life of the people.
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