Threat to water sources; Water details part-7
Threat to water sources
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Threat to water sources
Threat to water sources in Bangladesh
Do you think that all the water sources in Bangladesh (rivers, canals, beels, haors, lakes) are under any threat? Yes, our water sources are definitely under threat. First of all, the threat posed by climate change.
We have already discussed how water resources in our country could be threatened by climate change due to global warming. Now let’s discuss the other reasons. Threats due to floods and soil erosion Bangladesh is a flood prone country due to geographical reasons.
(Threat to water sources)
Almost every river in Bangladesh is fast flowing, one of the results of which is river erosion. Can you tell where the soil created by river erosion goes? This soil merges with the water and at one stage accumulates in the river bed and gradually the river fills up. On the one hand, as the course of the river changes, on the other hand, the river may dry up or even die.
Did you know that many rivers in our country are already dead? Karatoya, Bibiana, these rivers are now dead rivers. Even the once fast flowing Padma River is now in crisis. Many of you will have seen the scene of bullock carts driving under the Pakshi Bridge built on the river Padma. This is because the river is full. Drying up of rivers means depletion of water resources.
Threat to water sources
Occupy the river
Nowadays, various installations, even residential areas, are being built by occupying the river.
What is happening as a result? The course of the river is getting narrower and the water holding capacity is decreasing. For that reason
A little heavy rain is flooding. As a result of the occupation of several rivers including Buriganga and Shitalakshya, they are now dying. If this situation continues, in the near future these will also become dead rivers.
Threat to water sources
Construction of flood control dams on the river
Can you imagine that flood control dams could also be a threat to our water resources? Yes, that’s right you can now become known as a Lord of the Rings. Due to the construction of flood control dams on several rivers including Padma and Jamuna, the flow of water in their tributaries has been severely disrupted.
The rivers Manoj, Baral and Kumar have dried up due to this. Therefore, flood control dams are a serious threat to our water resources.
Threat to water sources
Unplanned waste management
Do you know how much solid waste is generated daily in Dhaka city alone? The amount is about 500 metric tons daily. Only half of it is collected by the Dhaka City Corporation and brought under management and the other half falls into the river through drains or other means. Besides, untreated waste from almost all industries around Dhaka is also dumped in the river. What are the consequences?
The river is overflowing with these wastes, the river water is becoming toxic. If this situation continues, the rivers Buriganga, Shitalaksha and Balu will die soon. The situation is similar in the rivers around Chittagong city.
Threat to water sources
Changing the direction of water
In 1975, the Government of India changed the course of the Ganges through the Farakka Dam. In 1978, Bangladesh signed an agreement with India on the distribution of Ganges water. Subsequently, another agreement was reached in 1997 to get a fair share of water.
Due to this change in the course of the Ganges water, many rivers in the northern part of Bangladesh have become water less, which has turned the region into a desert. Not only that, with the Farakka Dam, India also did not get the desired results but also faced various natural calamities. India also plans to divert water from the Brahmaputra River to the west through the Siliguri Corridor.
If this is implemented, disaster will come down in the entire southern region including about 300 square kilometers of haor area of Bangladesh. India’s recent plan to build a dam at Tipaimukh could also drain large areas of eastern Bangladesh. Therefore, it can be said that changing the direction of water is a significant threat to the environment.
Water is a fundamental right Water is a gift of nature, which is essential for almost all living things. From the beginning of creation, people have been using water for eating, bathing, cooking and all other purposes. The five basic human rights are food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care.
Each of them is dependent on water. So water is a basic human right. And since it is a natural resource, no country or nation has created it, all the people of the world have a right to every drop of water.
So when we use water, we have to remember that we are a resource for all the people of the world and it should be wasted in any way. To waste is to deprive others of their rights, which we cannot do at all.
Threat to water sources
Water source conservation and development
As we all know, we have a huge water resource. But the amount of water resources that can be used in real sense is very limited. In this case, if we are not careful in conserving the source of water, then one day we may have to suffer terrible consequences.
Water is needed for any kind of development, be it industry, roads, houses or urbanization. Again, if all these developments endanger the water sources, then virtually all development activities will come to a halt. Therefore, they have to be done in a very planned way without urbanization, so that the water sources are not damaged in any way.
Threat to water sources
Universal and international regulation of water flow
Did you know that all the oceans of the world are connected to one another? Yes, our oceans are all connected to one another. Once again the river formed from the mountain springs fell into the sea at one time.
That is, no matter where a river or sea is, no matter what country it originates from or wherever it flows, in fact they are the wealth of the whole world. Which means water resources are certainly a universal issue. It is not the wealth of any nation, country or continent, it is the wealth of all.
Due to the political rivalry, development competition, selfish behavior and intolerant attitude created between different countries, this universality of water resources is often not respected. However, in 1997 the United Nations drafted an international agreement on the distribution of water in the case of rivers flowing through different countries, although the agreement has not yet been implemented.
In addition, the steps taken in the international field of water resources are described below.
Threat to water sources
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is one of the watershed decisions taken at the UNESCO International Conference on Ramsar in Iran on February 2, 1981. Bangladesh signed the MoU in 1973. The Ramsar Convention was later amended and revised in 1972 and 1976.
Threat to water sources
International Water Course Convention
The International Law Association adopted a committee report on the use of water from international rivers at its 52nd conference in Helsinki in 1986. This is known as the Helsinki rule.
Subsequently, the UN Commission on International Law drafted an agreement on the use of international water, which was adopted as a convention at the UN General Assembly on 21 May 1997. According to the convention, no country can unilaterally use river water flowing through more than one country without the permission of the other.
According to this practice, countries can use the water flowing through their respective countries in a fair and reasonable manner, but it must be ensured that there is no interruption in the flow of water in other parts of the country. Do we see different countries of the world abiding by these rules ?
Threat to water sources
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Threat to water sources
