Karikapara canal: anything but a waterbody now
Karikapara canal, a 3-kilometre-long waterbody running through Khulna city, is on the verge of extinction due to mindless waste dumping and encroachment.
Not only does untreated water from Khulna City Corporation's (KCC) wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 13 flow into the canal regularly, chemical wastes from Khalishpur Industrial Area are also discharged into this waterbody almost every day.
Meanwhile, the authorities continue to turn a blind eye to the situation.
"The canal is in a critical condition as household garbage is being dumped into it regularly. Meanwhile, local influentials have been occupying its banks for years, building structures that are narrowing down the waterbody. Besides, untreated water from Daulatpur, Boyra and Khalishpur are also being discharged into the canal, causing a serious threat to its aquatic life," said Papia Sarkar, a schoolteacher of Bairagipara in ward-6.
Robin Basak, a trader of the area, used to transport goods via this canal from Dumuria to Pabla Bonikpara, Mujjunni, Kulipagan, and Daulatpur a few years ago.
The canal has slowly turned into a garbage dumping field over the last decade. It mostly remains dry throughout the year, with water flowing only during monsoon.
"The canal has slowly turned into a garbage dumping field over the last decade. It mostly remains dry throughout the year, with water flowing only during monsoon," he said.
Shamsher Ali Mintu, a resident of ward-9, said there's an acute shortage of fresh water for domestic use and irrigation.
"Karikapara canal has now become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Also, the stench from it makes the environment unsuitable for living. Not only has the fish stock in the canal been depleted, but the locals are also now more prone to diseases transmissible through its water," he added.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall during monsoon at times leads to waterlogging at Bastuhara colony, Boyra bazar, Khalishpur industrial zone, Daulatpur bazar, and Notunrasta areas due to poor drainage system caused by the garbage dumping and encroachment.
Upon visiting the area last week, this correspondent witnessed how the 80 to 100-feet wide canal has become agricultural land. The water has completely dried up near Hassanbagh area, while a 1.5-kilometre stretch of it, between Karikarpara bridge and Khudiar Khal, is covered with hyacinths.
Locals were seen cultivating taro roots, banana plants, and other vegetables on the dried land. Many have also illegally built houses on the canal's bed.
Samsuddin Ahmed, councillor of ward-6, claimed that this situation has caused a serious harm to local farmers and traders as they now find it difficult to bring their agricultural produce to the city.
"This canal used to serve as a water route to the city for the villagers of Purba Bilpabla, Pachim Bilpabla, Rangpur, Saluya, Arongghata, Sahapur, and Miksimil," he said.
He also mentioned that the canal was excavated in 2014-15 but little has been done to maintain it afterwards.
Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, coordinator (Khulna office) of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said around 47 canals flowing through Khulna city and its adjacent areas are in danger due to pollution and encroachment, 31 of which are under KCC.
Contacted, Nuruzzaman Talukdar, estate officer of KCC and member secretary of a committee appointed to mark illegal grabbers in the area, said they have listed the details of 460 grabbers and 382 structures on 26 canals in the city and handed them to the deputy commissioner.
Aminul Islam Munna, panel mayor-1 of KCC, told The Daily Star that they are planning to start drives soon to recover 22 canals from the grabbers, including Karikarpara, as it is a part of their election manifesto.
"A Tk 823-crore project is underway to solve the water-related problems in the city and to save the canals," he added.
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