Another one bites the dust

Juri has been robbed of its beauty.

During the monsoon season, discarded materials and polythene clog the river, threatening biodiversity of the Hakaluki haor. This has also led to the river's imminent death during the dry season.

Md Khurshed Alam, sub-divisional engineer (Moulvibazar) of Water Development Board, said the river originated in the northern part of Tripura. It enters Bangladesh through the Fultala border, flows through the upazila Sadar and becomes Hakaluki Haor, which merges with the Kushiyara river.

Photo: Star

Due to pollution, the river lost its navigability and is known to locals as "Mora Juri Nadi" (the dead Juri river). About a year ago, illegal structures on both sides of the river were evicted and 8.7km of the river were re-excavated, he added.

This correspondent recently visited the spot and saw that the river was almost dead. Garbage from nearby markets is being dumped indiscriminately into the river in ​​a 300-meter area of the bridge connecting Bhabaniganj and Kamniganj markets.

Sadek Mia, a resident of Juri upazila town, said, "The markets' people have set up open toilets on the  river banks. In addition to river pollution, the stench is hard to stand. In the rainy season, the filth washes into the river water and flows into Hakaluki Haor.

Local journalist, Kalyan Prasun Champu, said, "People are dumping garbage in the river as there is no effective waste management system. It's possible to produce organic manure through waste management. The administration can take necessary measures in this regard."

Jaifarnagar UP Chairman Mashum Reza said a couple of years ago, it was decided in the Upazila Parishad meeting that waste management would be done by allocating space through a project. For this purpose, Chalibandar and Kapna Pahar regions were initially visited by the administration.

Contacted, UNO Sonia Sultana said, "I've instructed the UP chairman to take measures to prevent waste dumping. We'll quickly determine a specific place for dumping garbage."

"If anyone disobeys the order and dumps garbage, strict action will be taken. If required, CCTV cameras will be installed for monitoring. Everyone should step forward to protect the river and haor," she added.

Badrul Huda, assistant director of the Department of Environment in  Moulvibazar, said, "I will take necessary action after visiting spot."