The polluted water in rivers and water bodies has also posed a health hazard to people.

According to sources, the industries including a good number of dyeing factories are running without proper water treatment plants though setting up Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) is mandatory for factory that discharges toxic water.

As most of the factories do not maintain the ETP technology, toxic water released by factories easily get into different water bodies, mainly in the rainy season creating environmental hazards.

There are at least 20 big industries including some dyeing units in Hobirbari union in Bhaluka upazila. The coloured toxic water released by these industries flow into Lautir Khal (canal) and then croplands in Paragaon village.

The canal is now virtually an outlet for toxic waste and its water is harmful for people and other living beings. Its coloured and stinky water can not be used even for washing, locals told this correspondent during a visit. However the level of toxicity could not be officially confirmed.

Janab Ali, 60, a farmer at Paragaon village, said, "Toxic water enters into our croplands in rainy season affecting paddy and other crops".

Janab Ali said there were plenty of fishes in Lautir Khal five to six years ago and people of Paragaon, Kachina, Gazipur, Hobirbari, Labonkhota, Naulakuri and Aulatoli villages used to catch those. Now, even frog is not seen in the canal due to pollution, he said.

Abdul Majid, 70, of Naulakuri village said, "The present situation is beyond our imagination and if such a trend continues, the area will become unfit for human habitation".

Rrickshawpuller Md. Akhtar of Lobankhota and village police (village defence party member) Noor Mohammed of Hobirbari union also echoed the same sentiment.

Some families have shifted their houses from near the Lautir Khal as the bad smell from the canal water made living there impossible.

Carpenter Md. Rafiqul Islam said he shifted his houses away from the canal to avoid the pollution.

Talking to this correspondent, young farmer Md. Ramzan Ali of Paragaon village wanted to know whether industries have the right to drain out toxic water into a canal owned by the government.

"We, the village people, are totally helpless against the influential industrialists", said Ramzan Ali, holding authorities responsible for not taking action against the polluters.

Habirbari Unoin Parishad Chairman of Nizam Uddin said, "The Union Parishad issued no objection certificates (NOCs) at the early stage of setting up of the industries.We have nothing to do now but to inform higher authorities."

"Few months ago, I made a verbal complaint against a knitting and a dyeing factory at a monthly meeting with Bhaluka Upazila Nirbahi Officer. We do not want factories that destroys the ecology."

Pointing his finger at ML Dyeing, Square Fashion Lt., Square Nit Fabrics, Arif Textile and FM Dyeing, UP chairman Nizam Uddin alleged that they are mainly responsible for pollution in the area and this should be checked as early as possible.

Abed Ali Knandaker, a member of Hobirbari Union Parishad, said that to save the future generation, water pollution should be stopped immediately at any cost.

When contacted, Rafiqul Islam, Senior Executive of Square Fashion Ltd. and Square Nit Fabrics Ltd, said they have a large effluent treatment plant (ETP-biological) that can treat 175 cubic meter water per hour but the waste water discharge from the factories is 90 cubic meter per hour.

He claimed that his industry is the lone unit in Bhaluka industrial zone that possesses a biological plant.

He also said that the water is drained out into the Lautir Khal after proper treatment.

Asked why the released water is coloured after treatment and whether it is safe for environment, Rafiqul claimed that the colour does not matter if the water is treated properly.

"As all our treatment activities are controlled digitally, the water treated in our factories is even suitable for drinking", he claimed.

He said setting up of an ETP (biological) needs Tk 8 crore to Tk 8.50 crore. So most owners are not interested to spend such huge amount on a treatment plant as the amount is enough for establishing another industry.

Setting up of ETP, especially biological ones, should be made mandatory for every industry to avoid the pollution, Rafiqul said.

The polluted water can seep into tubewells and endanger health of villagers.

A few of the industries have chemical ETPs but those are not operated regularly, some sources alleged while talking to this correspondent. The owners keep the ETPs inoperative for most of the time as maintenance cost per unit is Tk 1,00,000 to Tk 1,50,000 per month. They do this to increase profit, , the sources claimed

Ashsan Habib Mamun, In-Charge of Arif Nit Spin, said as they use cotton, so they do not have to use water. But Arif Nit Spin has already set up an ETP as production of Energy Dyeing, a sister concern of Arif Nit Spin, will start soon, the official added.

Md. Shafiqur Rahman, Assistant General Manager of ML Dyeing, said they have an ETP (chemical) and the water discharged by ML Dyeing is safe.

Md. Yunus Ali, Factory Manager of Baly Yarn Dyeing Ltd. at Labonkhota said they run a ETP (chemical) to treat the water and the water is drained out into the Lautir Khal after proper treatment.

But during a visit the ETP at Baly Yarn was found to be ineffective and obsolete.

In other industries, this correspondent was not allowed to see ETPs.

Meanwhile, joint forces have served notices on 41 industries in Bhaluka to submit papers including certificate of the Department of Environment and what measurers they have taken to treat toxic water. The industries have submitted their papers to joint forces and teams of the joint forces will visit these industries soon, according to sources. There are some 100 big and small industries in Bhaluka upazila as the area is flood free and has good communication with the capital and rest of the country.

On contact, Bhaluka UNO Rezaul Kabir said some factories may have ETPs but these are not used regularly and waste water is released from those without treatment.

This is affecting agriculture and fishery as the toxic waste gets mixed with waters of different water bodies. Environment protection rules should be maintained very strictly to protect the ecology, the UNO said.