The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNREGULATED discharge of effluents is contaminating waters of our rivers and aquatic life in them and similarly spoiling underground water aquifers from seepage through soil. Soil affected by such discharge is turning toxic and dangerous for any life form. But as a report in this paper some time ago emphasised, a survey revealed that only 56 industries out of 466 covered in the Dhaka Division were found to be running effluent treatment plants (ETPs). The greater number of those have not set up ETPs or are only faking that they are operating such plants. Thus, large scale discharge of untreated hazardous wastes into the rivers is going on unabated.

The rivers that flow around Dhaka city are in extremely burdened conditions from the carefree discharge of all forms of untreated wastes and effluents. Recent newspaper photos highlighted prominently the very degraded water quality of the affected parts of these rivers. The urgency of restoring the water quality of these rivers has become urgent. But reports appear in the press frequently about the poor quality of the water supplied by DWASA (Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority).

Clearly it is so very important to take up on an emergency basis the works at different levels so that the discharge of pollutants in the rivers can be controlled. The relevant authorities are pushing the polluters, specially the operators of textile mills, to set up and operate effluent treatment plants (ETPs). The establishment of a central ETP for the purpose is also under consideration. But hardly any progress has so far been achieved. Therefore, the greatest need is to do whatever should be done under a short time-bound plan. This is expressly because public health is already under a severe stress and decisive actions are needed to restore the health of the rivers.