For a pollution-free environment

AUGUST 16, 2015:   DAILY SUN

inorder to get a relief for a while from the busy and polluted urban life I always visit my village home at least for once in a month. As my sweet home is not so far from the capital city, it does not take much time and efforts to reach there. I regularly go there not only for the attraction for the roots but also to take a pure breath in the fresh air of the countryside as well as to enjoy the tranquility of the rural area. But it is heart-breaking that we are gradually loosing the pure air, peace and tranquility of the nature that has been prevailing in the villages for hundreds of years due to industrialization and increasing number of brickfield in the rural areas.

During the last two decades the number of brick-fields has increased geometrically. In those brickfields various firewood and coal are used as fuel. As a result, deforestation is increasing on the one hand and the volume of carbon emission intensifying in the air on the other hand. Consequently air is being polluted severely and creating a huge threat against public health and environment. Growths in the rate of literacy, local industrialization, reduction of unemployment rate and foreign remittance have increased the purchasing power of the lower-middle class people. As a result, those people are spending the larger portion of their income to build concrete houses. Therefore, the demand of bricks has also increased in the rural areas and consequently air is being polluted substantially.

The river Shitalakha flows by the side of my village. Its crystal clear water during the winter season once made it as an attractive lake. Now those days are over. Industrial wastes from Ghorashal, Palash, Valuka, Sreepur and Mowna have made its crystal clear water completely dark. Various big and small irrigation projects are spreading its water in all the paddy fields on both the sides of the river. As a result the underground water is also being contaminated with that severely polluted water of that river.

during the last two centuries we have witnessed a fast and colorful development of human civilization,

science and technology, culture, values, life styles and so on; whereas we did not find such type of rapid and radical changes and development during the previous one thousand years. Especially the invention of electricity, engine and development in automation technology has enabled the human race to make a giant leaf to the rapid and huge development. That development has given human being wealth, comfort, speed, but snatched away mental peace, relief, human values and made us cursed with severe moral degradation.

There have been huge changes and development in the city of Dhaka. Even during the early 90s, we could hardly find any high-rise commercial and apartment building. But during the last two decades hundreds of thousands of attractive, high-rise buildings have given Dhaka a cosmopolitan look. But those huge construction works were not well-planned and did not follow modern urban design, planning and also did not follow any master plan. As a result, we find everywhere the overflow of sewerage drain, and pile of garbage here and there that has made Dhaka the second worst city in the globe to live. But unfortunately no government has taken any effective steps and measures to solve such type of burning problems. Each and every government seems very much attentive to make their power eternal, enrich the fortune rather than implementing annual development plan.

Out of the total volume of carbon emission due to industrialization and industrial pollution during the last one and a half decade China produced 26.453%, USA 17.33%, EU 13.33%, India 6.41% and remaining by the rest of the world. Recently we have come to know that the amount of cement that China has used for the construction works during the last three years, the USA has used that volume during the last 100 years. In 1997 the industrialized countries signed an agreement to reduce carbon emission to the level as in 1990 under Kyoto Protocol. But they did not fulfill their promise and are seemingly very much indifferent to that vital issue.

As a matter of fact, the effect of carbon emission never rest at a certain place or country. It pollutes the atmosphere of the entire world. But there have been some hope that the alternative arrangement to Kyoto Protocol has also come into existence where emphasis has been given on renewable energy, such as solar power, air power and also encouraged to construct hydraulic power plant to produce electricity rather than fossil fuel and nuclear power-based power plant. Similarly, the use of environment-friendly fertilizer and use of natural mechanism to control paste in place of chemical and harmful pesticides are gaining popularity day by day.

The level of environmental pollution in Bangladesh is far more than the volume of industrialization. Bangladesh is a very little country with a huge population of more than 160 million. It is also a land of hundreds of rivers. So, all type of industries are not favorable for the country. The government has no strong policy in this regard. Moreover almost all the factories do not construct pollution control and waste treatment plant intentionally and in order to reduce cost. In some factories there are some waste treatment plants, but most of the time those are not running. Treatment plant is started only during inspection time and this is one type of match fixing as the news of inspection is leaked by somebody earlier. Lack of rigorous enforcement of law and exemplary punishment for the polluters such type of criminal offence of severe and reckless pollution is taking place without any obstacle. In our country most of the law-makers are industrialists or businessmen. They spend a lot of money as investment to become an MP and during their tenure they always try to make a manifold return applying their power, authority and influence..

However, we, the ordinary people are urging industrialist law makers: Please think about a nice future of the country, about the new generation, about the people and environment. Many of you certainly have created jobs through industrialization. But simply for a very tiny amount of additional profit you are causing severe damage to our environment. Because of the pollution created by so-called influential persons and careless sewerage authority, the river Buriganga is almost dead now. In 1957 the river, Thames in London declared biologically dead due to severe industrial and sewers pollution. The presence of oxygen in the contaminated water was not sufficient for the living creatures in the water. The smell of the mud under the river became like rotten egg. Through continuous efforts during the last 50 years the highly industrialized nation, Britain has been able to make water of the Thames safe. Now 125 types of fish species are living in that river.

If the authority become cordial, it is very much possible to make the Buriganga, the lifeline of Dhaka city, and other polluted rivers in the country free of pollution. In this regard, government should create an atmosphere so that people of all quarters can come forward to make their contribution to rescue Buriganga.

Due to a huge volume of carbon emission global worming is increasing gradually. Huge ice-burg is melting down at both the poles. Sea level is rising and because of which a huge area of land in many countries like Bangladesh laying almost at the sea level might go under water. GM foods, chemical fertilizer, pesticides have increased production of foods and food-grains. But due to reckless use of fertilizer and pesticides, various species are becoming instinct in the environment which species are very much important to keep the eco-system intact. Many incurable and fatal diseases, like cancer are also spreading as epidemic due to various contamination.

As a matter of fact, in some cases development and pollution control creates a state of great dilemma. But in order to get rid of this dilemma the human race should make a quick decision for the greater and long-term interest of the human civilization.

© Copyright:  Reserved by the writer (Noore Alam Siddiqui)