Install water treatment plants at Rampura
Locals demand
People from 36 villages of eastern Dhaka yesterday demanded the government install water treatment plant at Rampura pump station to save them from water pollution.
Around 600 people held a rally and formed a human chain at Rampura Bridge protesting the pumping of polluted water at Narai, Debdholai and Balu rivers.
Participants at the rally said that around 30 lakh people in 36 villages, including Nasirabad, Shekherjaiga, Bigdia, Nagdarpar, Gouranagar, Daserkandi, Baburjaiga, Idarkandi, Balurpar, Layanhati, Trimohini, Dakkhingaon and Uttar Manikdao have become the most polluted areas due to pumping untreated water through Rampura pump station.
They also said that wastes of Banani, Gulshan, Madartek, Bashabo, Badda, Mugdapara, Elephant road, Karwan Bazar, Maghbazar, Kalabagan, Kathalbagan, Rampura, Kamalapur and Tejgaon industrial areas are draining water into Narai, Debdholai and Balu rivers polluting the 36 villages.
Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, country director of The Hunger Project, said every citizen has the right to live in a pollution-free environment but the government has failed to provide pollution free environment and water.
Suruj Mian, president of Borogram Unnayan Sangstha, said 15 years ago they used to bath in the water of Narai and Debdholai cannels but today the water is so polluted that they can't even touch it.
He suggested installing treatment plants at the Rampura pump station for safeguarding 30 lakh people of the locality from pollution.