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Barguna river dying as grabbing, pollution go on

11 June 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Rafiqul Islam, Barisal

A building, being constructed on the grabbed land just beside the launch terminal on the Khakdhan River, bears testimony to widespread encroachment on the important waterway adjoining Barguna town.Photo: STAR

The Khakdhan River flowing by the side of Barguna town has turned into a narrow stream containing polluted water, thanks to mindless encroachment and dumping of factory and human wastes. The situation causes manifold problems concerning navigability, irrigation, ecology and environment. “During my childhood, Khakdhan River was about 1 to 1.25 kilometre wide,” Gour Chandra Basu, 85, an inhabitant of Barguna village, said. Elderly people of the area said several canals once connecting the river with Charcanali, Bhothmara, Shonakhali areas are now extinct. During this correspondent's recent visit to the banks of Khakdhan, several farmers, mostly marginal and landless ones, said the river contains very little water in the dry season and they face problems in cultivating crops. They have urged re-excavation of the riverbed and construction of sluice gates to facilitate irrigation. “Due to irrigation problem, farmers in the nearby villages have abandoned Boro farming and switched to vegetable cultivation but it is also hampered in the dry session due to lack of water,” said Md Shamsuddin Sheikh, deputy director of Barguna Agricultural Extension Department. With less availability of fish in the river, many fishermen, boatmen and other people, who were once dependent on the river, have changed profession. Pollution in the narrowed down stream has taken a serious turn as chemical wastes from small industries, on or near the banks of Khakdhan River, are left to the river. Human wastes from some 750 open toilets on the riverbanks and hundreds others across the town also find their ways into the river through drains and canals. Environment Directorate, Barisal office sources said lack of garbage management system in Barguna town is the major cause of pollution in Khakdhan River. Some influential people grabbed nearly one thousand acres of land on the riverbanks during the past few years, sources said. Sujoy Chakma, executive engineer of Water Development Board, said encroachment of the banks of Khakdhan River has led to alarming decline in its navigability and it hampers smooth movement of vessels to and from other districts. Around 5,000 engine boats ply the river daily while 20 to 30 oil tankers run through it every month.