Why people show no qualms when a canal or a similar water body gets filled up with garbage right before their eyes remains a big puzzle. Traditionally, canal water is used in the rural areas to irrigate agricultural land, but the dying canals seem to have lost their usefulness for reasons both known and unknown. Throughout Bangladesh, we hear stories of dying canals and rivers, and we also hear about the mischievous role of some powerful quarters as well as a section of the administration behind such an environmental tragedy.

The Taltala canal, which used to flush out excess water from Khulna city, is one such water body that is on its way to oblivion because of indiscriminate garbage-dumping by the residents. It already looks like a barren piece of land, choked by water hyacinths, bushes and shrubs. As usual, a number of encroachers have constructed houses, shops and cattle farms on both sides of the canal, right before the eyes of the administration. Environment experts fear that the canal will disappear if large-scale excavations are not carried out soon.

A recent visit to the area by our correspondent revealed that the once 60-feet-wide water body has narrowed down to a mere 25 to 30 feet, with the canal bed completely filled up at places. Locals believe that the two roads constructed by the Khulna City Corporation on both sides of the canal contributed to the narrowing down of its width. As a result, the entire area gets waterlogged after a rain. We are told that the canal's demarcation work was done 10 to 11 years ago, and excavation was done in 2015, but the residents say the excavation work was not done properly.

According to the Khulna City Corporation authorities, a project worth Tk 823 crore is underway to reduce waterlogging and develop a drainage system through excavation work. The canal will be excavated with the construction of sidewalls and walkways. The residents, however, are waiting eagerly for the completion of the project in time.

This needs to be said that creating awareness regarding conservation of our water bodies, especially those facing danger, is of utmost importance. The elderly people living nearby must have seen the flowing canals during their youth, so they should come forward to create awareness among the present generation regarding the importance of preserving water bodies. And saying no to dumping of garbage must be the first step.