S.A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Unabated disposal of garbage and liquid wastes from the local industries into the water of Surma River are polluting the river water and its adjacent areas in the city.
Human and domestic wastes from the nearby residential areas, industries, business centres and construction sites are being disposed into the river without any treatment that is polluting water in high scale for the last few months.
Spots that include Shekhghat, Kazirbazar, Topkhana, Chandni Ghat, Kali Ghat, Masimpur, Kadamtoli Ghat, Kushi Ghat and Technical Road Ghat show a disturbing scenario of sheer carelessness. People were seen throwing garbage and leftovers of hotels and restaurants on the riverbank.
Besides, garbage from the same sources are being dumped on the banks of the river, which might get mixed with water in the ensuing monsoon only to double the trouble, sources concerned warned.
Almost one kilometre of area consisting east and west sides of the Kin Bridge was seen covered with plastic bottles and other discarded materials, coconut and betel nut shells, medical wastes and rotten vegetables.
Amir Ali, a local who takes bath here regularly, said they have to bath here, although the river water is being polluted, but they have no option. “People are suffering from various water-borne diseases by using this polluted water,” he added.
Chief of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Prof Jahir Bin Alam told that the water of Surma River is being polluted quickly by human activities and the sedimentation rate is increasing day by day. “Locals must come forward to eradicate the problem sharply,” he added.
When contacted, General Secretary (Sylhet division) of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Abdul Karim told this correspondent, “We’ve have arranged seminars, press conferences and asked the related organizations over the issue. But no effective stapes were seen yet. We’ve decided to aware nearby people about the importance of environment and not to dispose wastages into the river.”
He also said, “A lot of people who use Surma’s water on a regular basis, are at a serious risk of contacting various types of diseases, including kidney and stomach ailments, skin diseases and hookworm infections. The water contains harmful bacteria that can cause potentially fatal diseases like cancer, tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy.”
Director of Department of Environment Sylhet Division Salah Uddin Choudhury said that they already called for the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) to take steps to stop pollution several times, but the repeated calls remained unheeded.
President of Environment Affairs Committee of SCC Councillor Azadur Rahman told, “SCC has no treatment plant to separate wastes from the river water.”
He said, “SCC will arrange meeting with the locals soon to aware them about the risks of polluted water.”
