TOXIC industrial and medical waste and household sewage has been making its way into Bangladesh from Agartala, the capital of the Indian state of Tripura, for years through a cross-border canal putting the environment, health, and livelihoods in bordering Akhaura upazila at risk.
The polluted water has been tested on several occasions and harmful chemicals such as lead, sulphur, manganese, cadmium and chromium were found to be way beyond the safe limit. Fish resources in the canal have already disappeared due to pollution, said an official of the Department of Environment in Brahmanbaria.
Media reports in a national daily on Saturday said that effluent from medical institutes such as the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, various dyeing, leather and melamine factories, and household sewage in Agartala is contaminating the water. The canal — Senarbadi — runs through 15 villages and the Akhaura Municipality area and flows into the Titas River through different points. The villagers who depend on the canal for their lives and livelihoods are bearing the burden of this cross-border pollution. They even cannot use the water for irrigation, let alone for household purposes.
As reported, the canal was once a source of sweet water. But now it is called ‘canal of black water’ as its water has turned almost black due to pollution. There are around 1,500 hectares of agricultural land in these bordering villages, which depend on the canal water for irrigation in preparation for their yearly crop. But due to excessive presence of heavy metals and other harmful chemicals in the water, the farmers cannot use the water for irrigation.
Unfortunately, people of the bordering villages have been demanding a solution to the black toxic water for long but nothing has happened. Such a situation cannot continue. Scattered throwing of polythene and various food packets, discarded plastic, glass bottles and other items are found floating in the pitch-black foul-smelling water.
Meanwhile, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is set to raise the issue of entry of toxic water from India through Akhauar-Agarttala check post during the six-day biannual meeting with Border Security Force (BSF) of India in Dhaka today (Sunday).
Bangladesh values its friendship with India and urges the neighbour to resolve this life-threatening issue immediately. We hope, India will come forward with fruitful and appropriate approach instead of giving only oral assurances.
