Open garbage dumping a nuisance for Patuakhali townspeople

The huge quantities of garbage collected from the district town is left in the open space on the Lawkathi river, causing serious environment pollution and posing health hazard for the locals.

The municipality authority’s proposal to the ministry concerned, seeking allocation of a 7.50-acre land for making a dumping site in Bashak Bazar area, about 10 km to the south of the municipality town, is yet to get approval, said officials.

Patuakhali municipality, set up in 1892, now covers around 30 square kilometres of area with around 1.15 lakh people.

It was upgraded to a first class category in 1989.

Waste materials including plastic items are burnt on the riverbank at the same site.Photo: Sohrab Hossain

There are 23.75-km drains, including 5.5-km brick drain, 7.25-km RCC and 11-km earthen drain in the municipality area.

Canals totalling a 47-km length runs through the district town.

In the municipality, 214 cleaners collect waste from different spots including roads and bazaar areas and keep it at specific points.

Four dump trucks of the municipality carry the garbage from the spots and leave it at Majhgram on the Kawkhali river, near BSCIC industrial area of the town.

Another dumping site in Swanirvor Road area is also on the bank of the same river.

The huge waste materials pollute the river water and spreads bad odour around, causing serious trouble for locals.

“We are badly suffering due to serious pollution including bad odour as the municipality authorities dump garbage in the open place. Movement through the road becomes a nuisance due to the situation,” said Mosharef Hossain Mridha, a resident of Majhgram area.

“We have to face bad odour round the clock. Children often suffer from different types of diseases due to the pollution,” said Khadija Begum of the same area.

Nuisance of mosquitoes and flies increased in the area due to the awfully dirty environment, said Farida Begum, another local.

Arifur Rahman, owner of Satota furniture factory, said he often fails to get sufficient employees as people do not want to work amid the stink coming from the garbage dumping site.

Sheikh Kamal Mahadi, assistant director of the Department of Environment in Patuakhali,  said, “We sent a letter to the Patuakhali municipality mayor on December 12 last year, asking them to arrange a dumping site for safe disposal of the town’s garbage to save the river water and the local environment from pollution.”

SM Akramul Nahid, medical officer of Patuakhali municipality, also head of its garbage section, said at least 50 tonnes of waste is gathered daily in the municipality areas.

“Half of the waste materials, left in the drains by locals, find ways into the river. Municipality trucks collect the rest from different points and it is also left into the river due to lack of a suitable dumping site,” he said.

“We are providing free health services to children in the areas affected by environment pollution and bad odour,” he said, adding, “We badly need an environment-friendly dumping site where bio-gas and organic fertilizer would be produced from the waste materials.”

Md Jasim Uddin Arzu, executive engineer of the municipality, said, “Considering the importance of keeping the town clean, we sent a letter to the local government ministry through the Patuakhali deputy commissioner on May 16 in 2016 for acquisition of 7.50 acres of land in Bashak Bazar area, about 10 km to the south of the town, for setting up a dumping site but we are yet to get approval for it.”

“If we get the site, we will be able to arrange a better management of waste. Meanwhile, we are looking for land to set up a temporary dumping site to prevent pollution,” he added.