The lost oases
negligence of the authorities concerned. Although, according to the Playground, Open Space, Park and Natural Water Body Protection
Act 2000, filling up of any water body including pond is illegal, it's going on unabated. The Daily Star found 63 ponds in the maps of
undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in its 28 wards out of 90. A survey for the map was carried out between 2003 and 2011. But many of the water bodies were filled up before the period and also even after the survey. We are publishing the twenty third report of
the series today covering the then DCC ward 8.
Not so long ago, Mirpur was peppered with ponds. There used to be 10 reservoirs in the area of which three are still alive while the rest have disappeared completely over the years due to construction of concrete and semi-concrete structures.
Among the ponds, only four were identified in the base maps of Dhaka City Corporation. The rest were either filled up earlier or overlooked by the city corporation.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. TWO PONDS IN SHAH ALI MAJAR
According to legend, the two ponds at Shah Ali Majar were dug up around six hundred years ago.
But one of the ponds is now on the verge of extinction due to negligence of the shrine authorities.
Almost half of the pond, located on the western side, has already been filled up as the shrine authorities are planning to construct a market there. The pond is around five bighas.
Shafiqul Islam, a shrine official, said they have filled it up partially for constructing a makeshift market. “Its water became polluted that's why we decided to fill it up.”
The shrine is around 600 years old and the reservoirs are there since then, he said.
Compared to the pond on the western side, the other reservoir in front of the shrine is in a better condition. But it is also in need of care as the water has become polluted. Hundreds of people use its water for ablutions.
Morshed Alam, manager in-charge of the shrine, said they have a plan to renovate the around one-bigha pond. “We will construct a ghatla (staircase) in it so that people can use it properly. We will try to implement the plan as soon as possible.”
About the other pond, he said they filled it up partially but the rest is being used for fish cultivation.
Russel, a shrine staff, said the water of the ponds used to be clean. They even drank water from those. “But the pond in front of the shrine is polluted now as people use it excessively and continue to throw waste in it.”
Mohammad Kamal, a local, said many floating people sleep on the shrine premises and bathe in the pond. The 35-year-old said he has been using the pond since he was a child. “Bathing was not allowed before, as many used the water for drinking.”
The water became polluted around 15 years back, he added.
POND AT SHINEPUKUR RESIDENTIAL AREA
A portion of the Shinepukur residential area in Mirpur used to be a reservoir around 20 years back. It was filled up in 1996 and three multi-storey buildings were built there.
Makbul Hossain, a resident of the area, said the pond was mostly used by the staff of a mosquito net factory located beside it. It was surrounded by various trees such as mango and coconut.
Shamsu Bhuiyan, caretaker of the residential area, said the pond was under the ownership of the factory. The entire area was around 11 bighas.
Shamsu, who was also a caretaker of the factory, said one Selim Chowdhury was the owner of the property. His son later sold it. Around 204 families live there in nine multi-storey buildings. The buildings -- B1, B2 and a part of B3 -- were constructed after filling up the pond, he said.
POND AT MUKTIJODDHA COMPLEX
There used to be a pond inside the Muktijoddha Complex on Chiriakhana Road in Mirpur. It has been filled up completely and several makeshift structures were built on it.
Around 350 families of freedom fighters received the plots in 1991, said Mohammad Jahidul Islam, son of a freedom fighter.
Jahid said the complex is on around 72 acres of land. The pond used to be around 3.5 acres.
Around 100 tin-shed structures were built after filling up the pond. He alleged that those were constructed by the persons who received the plots.
TWO PONDS IN BOTANICAL GARDEN
There are two ponds inside the National Botanical Garden -- Lotus Pond and Lily Pond. Both of the ponds were there since the establishment of the garden in 1961.
Sayedur Rahman, its director, said the lotus at the pond grows in Chiatra (12th month of the Bangla calendar) and Baishakh (first month).
Mojibur Rahman, forester of the botanical garden, said the Lotus Pond is around 1.4 acres and the Lily Pond around 1.38 acres.
The ponds are being maintained by the authorities on a regular basis.
Mojibur said they have already taken initiatives for renovating the ponds. “We will start the work in this fiscal. After the work, the beauty of the ponds will also enhance.” There are two types of lotus in the ponds -- white and pink, he said.
The garden has around 1,010 varieties of trees.
(Edited by HASAN MEER)
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