250 untreated sewage pollutes Buriganga

About 250 pipelines dump raw sewage directly into the Buriganga River in just six kilometers, contributing 30-40 percent of the pollution to one of Bangladesh’s most polluted rivers.

A recent study revealed that untreated sewage is discharged through 251 pipelines from Sheikh Russell School in Kamrangirchar to Farashganj Bridge.

A study titled “Pollution Status of Dhaka’s Rivers” by the Rivers and Delta Research Center (RDRC) found 137 sewer lines on the left bank (Old Dhaka) and 114 on the right bank (Keraniganj side).

According to Mohammad Azaz, chairman of the RDRC, the sewage connections were discovered during a field survey.

He suggested that these pipelines can be diverted to Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a small project costing only Tk 25-30 crore.

“If 251 sewage connections can be stopped, 30-40 percent of the pollution of the Buriganga River could be checked,” Azaz said.

Professor Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder of Stamford University’s Department of Environmental Sciences identified raw sewage, industrial discharges, waste dumping sites and discharges from water vehicles as the main sources of Buriganga pollution.

He stressed that without control over the discharge of sewage, the water in the river will never be clean and fit for use.

The environmentalist suggested setting up small and medium-sized sewage treatment plants (STPs) at various locations to effectively manage raw sewage from these compounds.

Professor Majumder noted that during June-September, certain water quality parameters of Buriganga remain within or close to the national standards set by the Department of Environment. However, in other periods, water quality consistently exceeds permissible standards.

The study also highlighted that 257 waste dumping sites along the banks of the river contribute to the pollution of the Buriganga River, 148 of which are located on the right bank and 109 on the left bank.

In addition, untreated effluents from industrial production are discharged in 93 places, including 35 points on the left bank and 58 on the right bank.

The study also identified additional sources of pollution in nearby rivers, finding 99 untreated sewage channels to the Turag River and 10 to the Balu River, as well as 131 waste dumping sites along the Turag, 51 in Tongi Hal and 32 in Balu.

Azaz pointed out that the Turag provides 90 percent of Buriganga’s water flow, but the Turag itself gets polluted at various places, particularly in Gazipur.

He called on the government to formulate a comprehensive action plan to address the untreated sewage drains and waste dumping along the Buriganga and Turag rivers to restore the Buriganga to its natural state.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Buriganga is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, and the city discharges more than 60,000 cubic meters of toxic waste into its waters every day.