Editorial
Invasive salinity in southwestern region
Coping strategy needed
Salinity intrusions into a vast swathe of the southwestern region have acquired dimensions that call for urgent attention of the government to be directed to the problem areas. The true extent of salinity is, however, only beginning to be known. Although experts have been warning of climate change-induced salinity penetration and its adverse effects, thanks to global warming, we are yet to draw up a coping strategy. The challenge posed being multifaceted it requires a multidisciplinary approach.
The current magnitude of salinity intrusions can be gauged from the fact that 93 upazilas of 18 southwestern districts are affected by it. As many as 20 million people in the coastal belt have no access to potable water causing various diseases on top of hindering farming and leading to loss of livelihoods.
Clearly awareness building is the first step to sensitise the whole community about the phenomenon and the dangers it portends. This is the basic requirement to ensure community participation in any remedial strategy. Only a collective approach can alleviate the sufferings wrought on by the invasive saline waters. The government, NGOs and local communities will have to work shoulder-to-shoulder to meet the challenge in a coordinated fashion.
An answer to the problem lies in collecting rainwater and conserving it for the dry season. This will require imparting skills and providing logistic support to implement a strategy for preservation of rainwater. At the same time, we must have reach-out programmes to alleviate the sufferings in areas afflicted by salinity-related diseases and running short of livelihood options.
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