The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rajshahi

Speakers at a multi-sectoral discussion meeting here Tuesday underlined the need for a concerted effort to protect the existing water resources from all sorts of pollution and degradation.

Referring to various forms of pollution of water and its contamination, speakers noted that effective measures should be taken against water and environment pollution on an emergency basis.

"Water resources should be made sustainable for the sake of maintaining a sound environment for survival of all living beings," they said.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) with assistance from Manusher Jonya Foundation arranged the discussion titled "Eco-friendly Water Management: Context Rajshahi City Corporation" at the conference hall of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The main objective of the discussion was to make the people of different sectors and other stakeholders' conscious on protecting the water resources, particularly the safe-drinking water and to resist misuse of water.

Rajshahi Divisional Coordinator of BELA Sayeed Ahmed Kabir presented a concept paper on the water resources and water supply system in the metropolis.

With Professor Dr Shamsul Alam of Geography and Environmental Science Department of Rajshahi University in the chair, Professor Dr Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu and Professor Dr Sultanul Islam of Geology and Mining Department and Associate Professor Abu Nasser Muhammad Waheed of Law and Justice Department of RU, Superintending Engineer of Department of Public Health Engineering Abul Bashar and Lecturer Dr Khandaker Foisal Alam of Rajshahi Medical College addressed the meeting as resource persons.

The discussants viewed that importance should also be given on using surface water for irrigation purposes to lessen the pressure on ground water and adoption and innovation of sustainable technologies to reduce water poverty.

Awareness on water and sanitation among children should also be created through primary education and steps should be taken to protect the existing natural water resources from endangering conditions.

Terming the unabated use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides in the cultivations land of and fish culture water bodies and industrial, solid and clinical wastes as harmful for living beings, they also favoured for enforcing the organisations and the persons concerned to follow the government's policies in this regard.

Discussants noted that investigation of existence of aquifer below 80-metres, its aerial extent and aquifer properties should be carried out for additional sources of irrigation for the sake of its sustainability.

Referring to the abnormal lowering of the ground water level in the area they advocated for normal flow of the major rivers and their tributaries along with creation of water reservoirs and highlighted the importance of rivers in defending environmental balance along with maintaining a sound biodiversity and aquatic vegetation.

To minimise the groundwater losses from Barind area the Ganges Barrage as well as other related projects, especially North Irrigation Rajshahi, should be implemented.

As many as 60 government and non-government officials, local body representatives, community allies like teachers and media representatives attended the meeting and gave their views on the issue.