Action plan to save 54 rivers

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) yesterday served a legal notice on the government, demanding it to formulate a time-based action plan to free 54 rivers from pollution and to prosecute the polluters.

In the legal notice, the organisation asked the authorities concerned to identify the sources of pollution, prepare a list of the persons responsible, prevent pollution, bring them under the book of law, punish them properly and to collect compensation from them.

Bela asked the notice receivers to declare the extremely polluted and dying rivers as ecologically critical entities and maintain those accordingly.

The legal notice have been sent to the secretaries at the ministries of environment, forest and climate change; industries; shipping; land; fisheries and livestock; water resources; agriculture; finance; public administration; and local government department; chairman of national river conservation commission; inspector general of police; director general of Bangladesh water development board; director general of department of environment; and chairman of Bangladesh inland water transport authority.

In the legal notice, Bela mentioned 54 polluted rivers including Buriganga, Brahmaputra, Shitalakhya, Turag, Dhaleshwari, Meghna, Balu, Arialkha, Moynakata, Bilpadma, Keertinasha, Suti, Paruli, Chilai, Kaliganga, Padma, Banar, Louhajong, Bangshee (Dhaka division), Jamuna, Karotoa, Ganga, Atrai, Narod, Ichhamati (Rajshahi division), Teesta, Khorkhoria (Rangpur division), Khheeru (Maymensingh division), Karnafuli, Halda, Bil Dakatia, Titas (Chattogram division), Mayur, Bhairab, Rupsha, Mathabhanga, Pashur, Kakshiali, Gorai, Madhumoti, Kumar (Khulna division), Kirtankhola, Shugandha, Lohalia, Tetulia, Khakdona, Shibbaria (Barishal division), Surma, Kushiara, Sutang, Sonai, Korangee, Borak and Dholai (Sylhet division).

Bela said it has identified the polluted rivers on the basis of researches conducted by different organisations and individuals, and newspaper reports.