Published on 12:00 AM, November 20, 2017

Of dead and dying dighis

Once known as the city of dighis (large ponds), Sylhet is losing its water bodies at an alarming rate. Unplanned urbanisation and negligence of the authorities concerned are pushing these vital arteries to the brink of extinction. The ones that are still surviving, like this one in Kazi Tula area, lies neglected. Though the Sylhet City Corporation, owning authorities of the reservoir, has fenced it, unabated dumping of waste from the nearby residents continues to threaten its existence. The photo of Kazir Dighi was taken recently. Photo: Sheikh Nasir
Dwoha Chowdhury

Once Sylhet city was known for its dighis (large ponds) -- flowing uninterrupted under the open sky without any fear of encroachment or pollution.

But over the years, most of these vital organs have fallen victim to urban sprawl. Now, they either exist in papers or as a name of an area. Meanwhile, the existing ones are struggling to survive due to a lack of care.

The centuries-old ponds Ramer Dighi and Machu Dighi are long gone but the areas -- Ramer Dighir Par and Machu Dighir Par -- still bear the names of the reservoirs.

The ponds were owned by the family of one Bimalendu Das alias Sadhu Babu, an influential landlord.

This is where the Machu Dighi used to be. The large pond has been filled up not so long ago to turn it into a concrete jungle. Now all that remains is the memory of the serene water body and the name of the area that still bears its name -- Machu Dighir Par. The photo was taken recently. Photo: Sheikh Nasir

The around 10-acre Machu Dighi was situated in the greater Taltola area. It was sold to a businessman whose family eventually filled it up completely by 2000.

On the other hand, Ramer Dighi (around 10 acres) was sold to a contractor. It was filled up by 2010.

Locals with the help of rights organisations tried to put up a resistance but to no avail as the authorities concerned continued to turn a blind eye when it came to saving the water bodies, they alleged.

The family of Sadhu Babu had another pond, Sadhu Babur Dighi. The around 2-acre reservoir was sold in the 80s and was replaced by concrete structures.

Not just these three, many other dighis in Sylhet city had suffered the same fate.

If anyone visits Bara Bazar in Amberkhana area, she or he would be surprised to learn that the urban maze there used to be a huge pond. According to historians, the around 20-acre Rajar Mar Dighi (King's mother's pond) was named after King Gour Govinda's mother and was dug up around eighth century.

But over the years, the reservoir was filled up and buildings were erected upon it. Now all that remains is a small ditch filled with garbage.

Besides, Chhara Dighi at Chhara Dighir Par, Janur Dighi in Zindabazar, Lal Dighi at Lal Dighir Par, Beka Dighi near Lal Dighi, Sagar Dighi at Sagar Dighir Par and many other ponds in the city only exist in history books or as sign boards.

Meanwhile, due to unabated encroachment and dumping of waste, the reservoirs such as Dhopadighi at Dhopadighir par, Dastidar Bari Dighi at Subidbazar, Lala Dighi at Laladighir Par, Majumdar Bari Dighi at Majumdar Bari, Murari Chand Dighi inside Murari Chand College and Kajal Dighi at Niorpul are now struggling to survive.

A survey on the wetlands of Sylhet city was carried out from 2007 to 2008 by the department of civil engineering and environmental science of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology as per request of the Sylhet City Corporation (SCC).

Prof Jahir Bin Alam of the department told The Daily Star that according to the survey, Sylhet city has lost most of its ponds at an alarming rate, and prompt action is needed to save the existing ones.

“We also recommended the corporation to take strict measures against the grabbers and re-excavate the dying ponds, but to no avail,” he said.

Mohammad Ashraful Kabir, coordinator of Bhumi Sontan Bangladesh, a rights organisation, said, “Once our city used to be adorned with dighis. Most of those are lost to urbanisation and the remaining ones are in death throes.”

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) Sylhet chapter, said dighis are necessary to mitigate waterlogging crisis in an area and also useful during fire incidents. It is also beneficial for the environment.

Most of the dighis are owned by the city corporation. Yet, no survey has been done in the last 10 years to know the exact number of water bodies or their conditions, he said.

SCC has fenced some of the dighis such as Lala Dighi and Jatarpur Dighi but most of the water bodies remain unprotected.

The authorities concerned have to take proper measures to save the reservoirs. “A master plan is needed to protect the remaining ponds and excavate new ones,” Kim said.

Advocate Shah Shaheda Akhter, coordinator of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela), Sylhet division, said the association has been working to save the ponds for years.

“We recently filed a writ petition to protect the Majumdar Bari Dighi from encroachment and pollution. What we need is a concerted effort to save the water bodies.”

When asked, Enamul Habib, chief executive officer of SCC, said, “To save the water bodies, we will initiate an awareness campaign soon as the responsibility lies with all to save the dighis.”

Contacted, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, SCC mayor, said the city has already lost many of its dighis. “We have to protect the remaining ones.”

“We have plans to save all the existing ponds from encroachment and pollution.”

According to SCC, in August this year, the corporation undertook a project to beautify Dhopa Dighi by constructing a floating restaurant on and a walkway around it.

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