Kharia, a river on deathbed

Environmental pollution and encroachment have left Kharia river in Mymensingh's Phulpur upazila on its deathbed.

The authorities concerned, however, seem to have turned a deaf ear to the issue as their indifference in monitoring the situation is quite apparent, alleged locals. 

The 25km long river is a tributary of the Old Brahmaputra and falls into Kongsho river in Netrokona. The river is also connected with several local water bodies, including Kurhar Doba (swamp).

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw heaps of garbage being dumped in different areas on the river bank. The garbage is being piled up for years apparently with no one to check this menace.

Once a great source of water for agriculture and local fisheries, the river has now become a narrow stream. Hyacinths cover on the water and bushes on the bank have made the river look non-existent, said Abu Mia, a farmer from Poyari village.

The river used to be the life line of agriculture and ecological balance of this locality but it has been left in a serious state of negligence, lamented Azizul Islam, a school teacher.

People have been dumping daily garbage on the river bank for years. Besides, the local butchers also use the river bank as their slaughtering ground, and throw away the animal wastes in river water.

Admitting the matter, Saidul Islam, a butcher at Amuakanda Bazar, said they have been slaughtering animals on the river bank for some 10 years and nobody ever forbade them from doing so.

Established in 2001, the Phulpur municipality with around 40,000 residents could not even manage a proper garbage management system in the last 23 years, said ATM Robiul Karim Robi, a local journalist. 

Only a few dustbins were found in the municipality, including one adjacent to Phulpur Upazila Health Complex. The clinical wastes of the hospital, however, are dumped in front of the facility, said locals.

Shashadar Sen, mayor of Phulpur municipality, said garbage is being dumped on the river bank mainly by the local people and businessmen.

The municipality authority once used to dump garbage on the river bank, but they are using a station in Kuria Bridge area for waste disposal now.

Regarding encroachments by influential quarters, the mayor claimed many of them have taken lease of the lands from the government.

Mymensingh Civil Surgeon Dr Nazrul Islam said dumping of garbage and the stench from it are detrimental to the environment and can cause serious health hazards, including waterborne diseases, long-term respiratory problems, and skin complication.

Ataul Karim Rasel, Phulpur Upazila Parishad chairman, said this serious nuisance must be stopped immediately.

He informed that a proposal for dredging the river was submitted to the ministry concerned three years ago, but to no avail.

Lawyer Shibbir Ahmed Liton, secretary of Poribesh Rokhha O Unnayan Andolon, said the dumping of garbage into the river is a gross violation of environment laws.

M Sajjadul Hasan, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) in Phulpur and also president of Nodi Rokhha Committee's upazila unit, said necessary steps would be taken against the polluters and grabbers.

The UNO also said he has recently started a campaign, involving students and scouts, to make the upazila clean and the initiative has been continuing.