Drying up of wetlands at JU threatens biodiversity
The university swamps now require immediate excavation as most of them have been silted up while others become dry in winter season.
The JU has a total of 27 wetlands excluding two ponds near Maulana Bhasani Hall and Al Beruni Hall.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Though the university authorities stopped leasing out lakes near academic establishments for fish cultivation a year ago, no initiative has been taken yet to renovate those already destroyed by fish cultivation.
Unplanned cultivation of exotic fishes has caused sedimentation through erosion of bank.
On the other hand, the erosion had compelled university authorities to get some wetlands dry as those threatened nearby roads and establishments.
The pond in front of MBH remained almost barren for over a year since the hall authorities had dried it for renovation.
The pond has now become a grazing field for cattle while some university employees cultivate water hyacinth in it during monsoon for cattle food.
The pond in front of Old Arts Faculty has also been dried up for renovation, but no work has begun yet.
Meanwhile, linkage of different dormitories' sewers to nearby swamps is contaminating water while dumping of wastage from university transports have caused the lake in front of administrative building almost fish-free.
The contamination is affecting the life cycle of amphibians, aquatic birds and plants.
Natural growth of almost 40 species of fish has been threatened while some endangered species of local birds including Bronzed Wing Jaccana (Jolpipi), Moorhen (Kali Pakhi) and White Breasted Water Hen (Dahuk), who were once frequented, are now hardly seen.
"A co-ordinated sustainable programme should be taken up immediately to address the problems," said Kamruzzaman Monir, assistant professor of Zoology.
He said immediate sanction of fund must be made for excavating as well as erecting embankment to prevent erosion of bank and pollution of water.
"Sedimentation is a natural process and excavation must be conducted regularly," said Prof A B M Enayet Hossain, former treasurer of the university.
"We have formed a committee to make the ponds reusable through immediate renovation," said Mafruhi Sattar Titu, provost of MBH.
The committee, formed by the university syndicate about one and a half years ago with Prof Shamsul Alam of Geography as its head, proposed expending Tk 26 lakh for renovation of the swamps, but no effective steps were taken to execute the proposal, said sources at university engineer's office.
Confirming that no steps regarding the issue has been taken Treasurer Prof Abdul Hai, chief of internal resource management committee, said, "I will instruct estate office to prepare a list of wetlands at risk."
"Later, the findings will be forwarded to syndicate for next course of action," he added.