Desk Report,
Shubhadhya Canal is now a ‘plastic dump’
The Shubadhya
is filled with garbage and plastic waste. Yesterday afternoon, the East Aganagar Jora Bridge in South Keraniganj, Dhaka – adjacent areas Photo: Prothom Alo
Shubhadhya Canal is now a ‘plastic dump’
The Shubhadhya Canal, which flows through South Keraniganj next to Dhaka, was once a lively waterway. The canal, known as the junction of Buriganga and Dhaleshwari, has lost its existence due to encroachment and pollution. Although initiatives have been taken to rescue and renovate the canal several times, it has not been sustainable. This time, the government has undertaken a new project worth Tk 317 crore under the supervision of the army.
Local residents said that once boats used to ply in the canal, fish could be caught, and the canal water was used in the surrounding agricultural land. Now, almost the entire canal is encroached upon, filled with waste and polythene. In some places, the canal has been filled to the point that it can be crossed on foot.
The length of the Shubhadhya Canal is seven kilometers. The canal starts from Char Kaliganj in South Keraniganj, Dhaka and ends in the Rajendrapur Bazar area. The canal is already on the verge of disappearing due to land grabbing by land grabbers and the garbage dumped by local people. Yesterday, Tuesday, these two reporters from Prothom Alo visited Char Kaliganj, Kaliganj Bazar, Jora Bridge, Khalpar, Naya Shubhadhya, Kadamtali, Charkutub, Jhaubari, Begunbari, Golambazar, Rajendrapur and several other areas of the canal. A three-kilometer area from Char Kaliganj to Golambazar has been filled with plastic and barwari waste. At a glance, it would seem that this is a canal for dumping plastic waste.
There are several hundred factories and shops in this part of the canal from Char Kaliganj to Golambazar. It has been filled with all the waste from factories and shops. There is no water in this part. People can move from one side to the other without using a bridge. And from Uttar Shubhadhya to Chitakhola, the canal has accumulated silt and filled up. Grass has grown there. The next part of the canal from Chitakhola to Rajendrapur has been dug and soil has been left on both sides. However, there is water there.
