Dhaka four rivers: No effective measures to stop pollution

Only two out of 12 waterbuses ferrying passengers between Sadarghat and Gabtali of Dhaka are now in operation.

The waterbuses on the river route have been operated by Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC).

One BIWTC official recently told Prothom Alo, “A small number of passengers is the main reason behind limiting the number of waterbuses. The number of passengers declines because of bad odor from the polluted river water. Passengers cannot tolerate the bad odor.”

Water expert and former professor at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Mujibur Rahman, observed that there is no life in the river Buriganga.

Pollution in the Buriganga that flows over Dhaka has been intensifying day by day. Not only the Buriganga, but also the Turag, Balu, Shitalakshya and Dhaleshwari experience the same fate.

The water quality of these rivers is much lower than the standard to support the aquatic lives. Water quality improved in some portions of the rivers during the coronavirus-induced general holidays last year. The water has polluted again.

The government agencies responsible for the pollution have not stopped the culture of blaming one another. Some of them are saying that Dhaka dwellers will have to wait for a decade to get pollutant-free river water.

Amid the situation, Bangladesh observed the World Environment Day on Saturday with the theme–‘Ecosystem restoration’. Greens and researchers demand quick implementation of the effective steps to restore the Dhaka rivers.

Measurement of the dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the indicators to detect pollution in the river water. As per standard quality, one litre water contains minimum 5 milligram of DO.

The department of environment (DoE) water monitoring reports show that DO level at some portions of the five Dhaka rivers dropped to zero during dry seasons in last five years.

In March this year, the DO level in 1 litre water of the Buriganga near the Mirpur Bridge was measured at 0.32 milligram. The level of DO at the same point was 2.02 milligram in April last year.

During dry season last year, 1 litre water of the Turag near Gabtali Bridge contained 3.02 milligram DO. In March this year, the concentration of DO halved.

Fahmida Khanam, director (natural resource management) at DoE, said, ‘Sewage is the main source of pollutants. Dhaka WASA can only manage sewage generated from 10 per cent of the city population, covering 20 per cent of the total city area. The remaining of sewage is dumped into the rivers. We are still struggling to check disposal of industrial waste.”

Industrial waste, sewage, solid waste from two city corporations and effluent of vessels are identified as the four major sources of pollutants for the Dhaka rivers. Several government wings are responsible for monitoring as well as controlling the pollution. But the authorities concerned are playing a blame game.

Dhaka WASA is responsible for sewerage management while the DoE is liable to control the industrial waste.

When asked about the role of the DoE to control the industrial waste, the organisation's director Fahmida Khatun said, “There are 5,000 industrials units in Narayanganj. How can DoE control the industrial waste across the district with its one deputy director and two inspectors?"

Talking about the failure in sewerage management, Dhaka WASA’s acting managing director Abul Kashem said, “We do not deny the responsibility. But the industrial waste causes 50 per cent and sewage 15 per cent of river water pollution.”

Dhaka WASA and the two city corporations of Dhaka are under the local government division. Local government, rural development and co-operatives minister Tajul Islam said, “RAJUK approves construction of city buildings. How does it approve a building without septic tank? If there were septic tanks, sewage could be managed."

Officials of several departments under three ministries informed Prothom Alo about plans and projects to reduce river pollution in Dhaka. They also stressed for more projects. Most of the initiatives are at the planning stage.

Currently five sewage treatment plants are under-construction, Dhaka WASA officials said. “The projects would be completed by 2030. After that, the Dhaka rivers would not be polluted by sewage,” Dhaka WASA acting managing director Abul Kashem told Prothom Alo.

DoE accuses many factories of not having effluent treatment plant (ETP). To evade operational costs, factories do not run their ETPs. Now the DoE is planning about a project to bring the ETPs under monitoring online.