RAJSHAHI, Oct 2: Effluent from Rajshahi city has been a serious threat to the local water bodies including the Baranai River, causing serious environmental pollution and affecting the health of local people. If necessary measures are not taken immediately, the situation may worsen, predicted environment specialists.
Concerned sources said, the effluent of the city flows through the Cityhaat drain, Duary canal and Baya Bazaar canal and finally falls into the Baranai River.
The wastage is mainly dumped from different government and non-government hospitals including Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), from the Cityhaat cattle market and different industries in the city.
The farmers and the fishermen are getting affected with different water-borne diseases after they come in touch with the water mixed with toxic wastage. Besides, the production of fishes at different water bodies has also suffered setback, local fishermen informed.
While talking to The Daily Observer, Profulla Chandra Haldar, a fisherman at Haldarpara area of Nawhata in the city, said, "We maintain our livelihood mainly through fishing at different open water bodies. But now the production of fish has reduced to a drastic level since the water here has become polluted. As a result, we are incurring financial losses."
Abdur Razzak, another fisherman at Baranai riverbank area said, "I used to catch fish from the water bodies here but now the fish reserve at the local water bodies has come down to an alarming level and I am not getting fishes in my net. Now I am passing days amid hardship. I urge the concerned authority to take immediate measures in this connection."
Paba Upazila Agricultural Officer Monjurul Mawla said, "The wastage of the city contains various harmful elements that cause environment pollution and affect the human body seriously after they use the polluted water for different purposes."
Chairman of Paba Upazila Parishad SM Ashraful Haque Tota and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Selim Hossain said, they informed the matter to the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) authority, but no measures have been taken yet.
Researcher of rivers in Rajshahi Mahbub Shiddque said, the RCC has no proper wastage management system and so the problem is mounting day by day.
Member of Parliament from Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohonpur) constituency Ahyen Uddin said, "The wastages of RCC have been causing serious water pollution for long. The farmers here use this polluted water in different purposes and they are getting affected with different water borne diseases."
It is a matter of regret that the authority concerned has not taken any steps in this connection yet, he added.
