Survey on Basia from today

The Basia river, which flows by the side of Bishwanath upazila town of Sylhet, has turned into a narrow stream of polluted water, thanks to mindless encroachment and human wastes dumped into it.

Water Development Board will begin a survey on the river today.

Monir Hosain, 85, of Deokolosh village under the upazila, said The Basia river was about 180 to 200 feet wide and 25 to 40 feet deep in 1956, but now it is only 80 to 100 feet wide.

Elderly people of the area said several canals once connecting the river with Deokolosh, Osmaninagar and Charchandi areas are now extinct.

During this correspondent's recent visit to the banks of Deokolosh, several farmers, mostly marginal and landless ones, said the river contains very little water in the dry season and they face problems in cultivating crops.

They urged re-excavation of the riverbed and construction of sluice gates to facilitate irrigation.

Pollution in the narrowed stream has taken a serious turn as chemical wastes from small industries on or near the banks are dumped into the river.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon's Sylhet chapter Abdul Karim Kim said protecting the rivers from encroachment and pollution is a must to save the life and livelihood of the people and preserve biodiversity.

Executive Engineer of Water Development Board of Sylhet Sirajul Islam said encroachment of the banks of the river has led to alarming decline in its navigability. They will start a survey from today, he added.