Treat liquid waste to keep Padma clean
The authorities concerned must ensure proper treatment of all types of liquid waste before releasing those into rivers in order to keep Rajshahi's Padma and Barnoi rivers free from pollution, speakers said at a meeting in the city yesterday.
They also urged people living on the river banks not to drop solid and plastic waste into the rivers.
They were speaking at an awareness building event held at the Oddvar Munksgaard Park on the Padma bank near Boro Kuthi. Rajshahi City Corporation organised the meeting with ward councillor Shariful Islam in the chair.
Speakers said the city's rivers are being polluted as the city corporation releases untreated liquid waste into the rivers through drains. Some factories that are being set up around the city also release untreated liquid waste into the river, they alleged.
Besides, people are throwing plastic materials, polythene bags and solid waste in drains, which go directly into rivers.
Speaking as chief guest, Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton said the increasing pollution was posing a threat to the river biodiversity.
"Many think rivers and drains are the best place to dispose of waste. We have to change this mentality to save the rivers... City corporation workers can't keep the city clean alone unless we assist them," he said.
He said the government was initiating projects to revive navigability of the Padma.
Writer Ruhul Amin Pramanik emphasised on social movement to keep the rivers clean.
River researcher Mahbubul Kuddus Siddiqi said steps should be taken to turn the Padma into a source of livelihood for many, as it was before. He suggested a separate project for treating liquid waste before releasing those into river.
Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar, director of Environmental Science Institute of Rajshahi University, suggested to strengthen monitoring over the industries to check if they were using treatment plants to properly treat liquid waste.
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