Editorial
Sludge cleaning running into trouble
A temporary setback for lack of planning
EVEN while embarking on a perfectly commendable and highly imperative undertaking we hardly cease to startle potential beneficiaries with an awkward missing link in the exercise messing it up, almost to the point of jeopardising it. The case in point is the BIWTA's temporary suspension of its scooping up of sludge and solid rubbish sheets enveloping the Buriganga river-bed for want of suitable dumping sites. While they earned legitimate praise initially for doing a wonderful ecological job the organisers have had to face a standstill.
It is only after a sizeable quantity of sludge and solid waste -- 2500mt, to be precise -- has been lifted from underneath the river, that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) woke up to the harsh reality of not having made any collateral planning for dumping the waste in a suitable place. It was not as simple as earthwork; for, the solid wastes are toxic and hazardous to health and not disposable at random. That is why the suspension of the operation till such time as they have got some dumping sites.
The story is, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) refusing to dump the sludge at its already overflowing Amin Bazar dumping ground, a search was undertaken to get an alternative site. Such a location has reportedly been found, according to BIWTA authority, as private landowners "have agreed to take this sludge and soil-mixed garbage to develop their lands".
This means that just as there is toxicity to the rubbish there is also a potential soil fertilising quality. We would regard this as a lay man's point of view unless this is corroborated by scientists and made known to public. Some people seem to have reservations about dumping in private lands. Their apprehensions need to be allayed as the BIWTA and the ward commissioners jointly select safe sites for the dumping.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments