Mindless waste dumping on Alutila Hills slope

Massive dumping of waste materials collected from the district town on a slope of Alutila Hills beside Khagrachhari-Chittagong Road causes serious environment pollution, much to the sufferings of the residents of nearby areas.

Shilachhari canal, the only source of water for dozens of families at Uttar Mohalchhara Para and Bangalkathi Tripura Para, is badly polluted due to the callous act. The garbage also finds way to the Chengi River.

During a spot visit, this correspondent saw raw waste as well as plastic goods, bottles, broken glasses, and ceramics scattered in the canal area.

A number of women and children were bathing in the polluted water.

Chingmra Mogini and Krajai Mogini, two housewives at Uttar Mohalchhara Para, said the canal served as the only source of water for the local residents but it has become badly polluted and stinky due to garbage dumping.

Now they have to walk a kilometre to collect drinking water.

The dirty water is also breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies.

Most of the villagers have to toil throughout the day, collecting juice from rubber garden and doing jhum cultivation but they often fail to get water for a refreshing bath, locals said.

Several residents said they repeatedly requested the municipal authorities not to dump garbage there but to no effect.

Meghnath Tripura, member of ward No 3 of Golabari union, said 35 families of nearby areas earlier used water from the small stream but now the water has become unusable.

He demanded urgent steps to provide alternative source of water for the locals.

Twenty-five tonnes of garbage are accumulated in Khagrachhari town daily and of it, 20 to 22 tonnes cleared by the municipality workers are dumped at Alutila garbage depot, said a worker engaged in garbage management in the municipality.

Khagrachhari municipality Mayor Rafiqul Alam said they have to dump garbage at Alutila due to lack of any alternative arrangement. 

"A project has been taken for garbage management on 11 acres of land at Comilla Tila area near Khagrachhari town. If the project gets approval from the authorities concerned, it can be implemented within next one year and then the environment pollution will be minimised," he said.