Scientific Study of Dying Rivers for Societal Benefits: a Comparative Analysis of Two Rivers in Two South Asian Countries

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 01, JANUARY 2020 ISSN 2277-8616 Scientific Study Of Dying Rivers For Societal Benefits: A Comparative Analysis Of Two Rivers In Two South Asian Countries

Nayna Tabassum, Surajit Das, Mainak Ghosh

Abstract: Adi Ganga, known as Tolly’s Nullah is a paleo-distributary of the Bhagirathi River, stretching from north-west to southern part of Kolkata, India. Settlements gradually developed along the banks of the river as it has connected many important areas of the city. Ample supply of water for irrigation was also an added advantage. The Nullah once flowing profoundly being frontier as one of the main navigational channels for trade and transport, now have become a backyard waste dumping zone of those areas making the canal water polluted with foul smell. In recent times it has turned to a narrow, degraded, congested nullah. Now the canal is on the verge of dying with the title of a lost river. Similarly, the river Buriganga has been the lifeline of Dhaka- the capital city of Bangladesh for over 500 years.It is a tide-influenced river passing through west and south of Dhaka City. Trade and commerce, communication, municipal facilities, waste management, drainage, source of water etc. were linked with the river and still it is serving Dhaka relentlessly. But due to unplanned haphazard discharge of untreated household and industrial waste, the river has become highly polluted over the years with diminishing length from 27 km to 18 km. The water quality of the river is very poor to maintain a sound river-ecosystem. In both the cases people living near the waterways have strong physical and emotional attachment with it in their memory along with functional and social desideratum. And also in both cases various socio economic and anthropogenic factors work as vital role behind the degradation of water channels to contemporary scenario. The paper aims to summarize a comparative analysis of physical and human aspects that have catalyzed in degradation of the voluminous rivers. And also the paper will elaborate how the physical structures responded with the changing trajectories of water landscape in two different localities in two different countries with similar socio-physical traits. Thus this would give a detailed understanding of the transforming water landscape. The task incorporates collating the literature, historical, social and geographical data for an integrated understanding to present a correlative scenario between Adi Ganga and Buriganga.

Keywords: Adi Ganga, Buriganga, Degradation of river, Comparative analysis, Water urbanism, River. ——————————◆——————————

INTRODUCTION river- Buriganga and Adiganag. The objectives of the present In the remote past, a course of Ganga River used to reach the paper are: Bay of Bengal through Dhaleshwaririver (Majumdar, 1971). • To analyze the origin and evolution of the rivers. This course gradually shifted and eventually lost its link with • To probe into the present conditions of the rivers. main channel of the river Ganga with the new name of • To highlight the impact of human interference on the Buriganga. So now it is originating from the Dhaleshwari River rivers. near south of Savar through the Karanatali tributary and Turag • To suggest some measures to combat the problems faced river and meets Dhaleshwari again near Munshiganj district. by the rivers. Buriganga’s average breadth and depth of the river is 14 m and 265 m respectively (BBS 2005). Again, the main flow of Methodology& Approaches Ganga has taken the path of river Padma that leaves the The present work is very much dependent on field work and boundary of West Bengal as well as India and flows over analytic observations. Previous literature has been of much Bangladesh and connects with the Meghna River. The shifting help for getting an overall view of the study areas. The of course of river Bhagirathi is supposed to be the cause of this approaches have been landscape and qualitative, descriptive phenomenon. But it is not the only result of the shifting of and above all comprehensive discourse analysis. Bhagirathi, the remnant of the former course of Bhagirathi has a. Study Area given birth to a small narrow channel that flows through Buriganga is located mainly in Dhaka from 23°37'59.99" N to Kolkata and eventually falls into Vidyadhari River. That very 90°25'59.99" E. It stretches from Gabtoli at north to channel is commonly known as Adi Ganga. It is obvious that Narayanaganj-Munshiganj in south. But the field survey both the rivers take the name from the River Ganga. For mainly focuses the areas near Showari-ghat to Shadar-ghat. Buriganga it is said that, Mughals were astonished by the Adi Ganga is situated mainly in Kolkata from 88°30´00´É to water level of the river during high and low tide. On the 88°19´00´É and from22° 33´00´Ń to 22°33´00´Ń longitude contrary, presently the recorded highest water level found as and latitude. The Adi Ganga now flows along places from low as 7.58 mPWD (BWDB, 7 July 2019). Being a main part of Alipur to Tollygunge and Garia, kalighat remains in the midway sewage system of Dhaka Metropolitan city, still trying to hold of the rivers. its identity of a river. For Adi Ganga, It is very difficult to b. Limitations imagine that this narrows and almost dried up canal of present It is a short review based qualitative analytic research. day was the main flow of river Ganga hundreds of years ago. Statistical data based approaches was not inherited in the At present it is nothing but a thin strip of a canal or to explain research process. But this could be a potential future research more accurately, an important part of the sewage system of prospect if analysis processes includes quantitative methods. Kolkata Metropolitan city. Literature Review a. Historical traces of Buriganga Aim and Objectives i) Pre-Colonial Period (1205-1764) Aim of the paper is to present a comparative analysis of In the Pre-Mughal period Buriganag was named ‘Dolai’ river substantial and human aspects that instigated in degradation as a branch of Ganga. It was the center for trade and of the voluminous rivers based on present context of the two commerce. This river channel served as the main water 3326 IJSTR©2020 www.ijstr.org INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 01, JANUARY 2020 ISSN 2277-8616 transport system of the bazaars and also served as the main domestic waste each day and the treatment plant have the source of drinking and daily-needs waters. Riverfront was in capacity to treat only 10% of them .(Kibria M.G.,Kadir M.N., high demand and so rich peoples, merchants, Amirs started to Alam S, 2015) gathered around the river. ii) Colonial Period (1764-1947) Disposal of industrial waste Buriganga was no more connected with the river Ganga. There are no sewerage treatment plants in most of the Commercial importance of the river declines as the capital industrial units around the Buriganga River. More than 60,000 shifted to Kolkata. Due to beginning of tannery industries, cubic meters of toxic waste including textile dying, printing, steamers, ferries and discharges , deterioration started. washing and pharmaceuticals are released into the main water Treatment plant was established to provide piped drinking bodies of Dhaka every day. (Kibria M.G.,Kadir M.N., Alam S, water. Establishment like Buckland Bund serves as the 2015) recreational zone of the city. Riverfront was still in high demand at that time. Tannery waste iii) Pakistan Period (1947-1971) But there were about 200 leather tanneries in that area a few Dhaka started to grow towards north but Shadarghat remained years ago. Most of these industries used to operate manually the traditional business center. Buriganga riverfront declines releasing untreated toxic chemical waste near residential its residential character.From 1950 there is huge rise in areas. tannery industries and motorized water transports. Toxic chemicals and heavy metal particles used to discharge in the Land encroachment and Illegal construction river and thus the pollution of water began. Disposal of Over the years, landfills created on the river have narrowed its sewerage waters continued in this period. width at many places near the city. The encroachers have set iv) Present scenario (1971-present time) up platform like structures on the rivers and gradually filled out After Independence Dhaka city grew towards further north the bottoms by piling up earth and rubbish. making the Buriganga and Shadarghat areas as the most southern part of the city. With increased industries, markets, Sedimentation small factories, launch and boat terminals, dockyards, slums Rahman and Rana state that, because of the sedimentation and illegal constructions occurred. Dholaikhal was filled in on the upstream, the flow of Buriganga- Turag system gets cut 1973 and a couple of bridges were made over Buriganga for off, especially during the dry season. This is why no single drop better communication and transport. With the changes in land water flows into the river system. use pollution of the river water continued. Deposition of metals, plastics, polythene and toxic waste has created a layer Effects of Buriganga’s Degradation diminishing the depth of the river. It is affecting the aquatic plants and creatures hampering the whole eco-system. Degradation of water ecosystem b) Historical traces of Adi Gnaga The water quality of Burganga has been deteriorating day by i) Pre-Colonial (Prior to 1690) day. According to a study the average DO, BOD and COD was Adi Ganga was an important navigation channel. Portuguese 1.11 mg/L, 82.30 mg/L and 148.45 mg/L respectively and the traders would use the Adi Ganga as far upstream as Betore on concentration of nitrate and phosphate was 5.92 mg/L and the West bank and the site of today's Garden Reach on the 5.83 mg/L respectively (Ahmed S.S., Tasfina S.,Rabbani East bank. Adi Ganga constituted a major mediaeval outlet of K.A.,Md. Khaleque A., 2016). These indicate the water quality the Bhagirathi. is very poor and fully hazardous for human and aquatic ii) Colonial (1690-1947) creatures. As such ecosystem is disrupted and degraded. This phase reveals how the Adi Ganga underwent a transformation: from Natural to Artificial and from Continuous Siltation to Fragmented. The Permanent Settlement Act, Land Reform Lack of proper dredging and because of untreated waste acts and the Riparian Acts, which show the systematic dumping the siltation process take place decreasing the river breakdown of the land-water relationships. navigability.

iii) Post-Colonial (1947 -present) Water logging and drainage congestion Increased industrialization led to more migrants and refugees The city is continuously losing its wetlands. It is beyond the moving into the city. These new migrants inhabited the old capacity of the Buriganga river to carry the runoff storm water industrial landscape. The waste of from these slums was of the whole Dhaka city. As a result water logging and drainage released into the canals. This brings us to the present state of congestion taking place making the city unhygienic and the channel, which lies within the categories of the Sacred inactive. versus the Profane, the Continuous versus Fragmented and lastly the Natural versus the Artificial. Changes in land use Reason behind Degradation of the Rivers The pollution of river water and environment as well as establishments eventually impact in the changes of land use Causes for Buriganga River Pollution pattern of the adjacent areas of the river. Disposal of sewage and domestic waste The Dhaka Water supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) is Decline of Natural Landscape responsible for collection, treatment and disposal of waste The trends of industrial land development around the river water, sewage and storm water of the city. According to a have posed environmental threat to the areas. The developing study the population of Dhaka produces 900 cubic meter of

3327 IJSTR©2020 www.ijstr.org INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 01, JANUARY 2020 ISSN 2277-8616 activities damage natural landscaping and changing the character of the area.

Health hazard Besides physical consequences Buriganga pollution, has also bring some potential health hazard. In a study it was showed that69.5%, 0.9%, 16.7%, 8.2%, and 3.9% respondents were suffering from Diarrhoea, Malaria, Skin Disease, Dysentery and Typhoid, respectively (Islam S., Rahman R., Sahabiddin A.K.M., Ahmed R.,2010)

Causes for Adi-Ganga River Pollution

Solid waste Different types of wastes from households and all other types of waste products are thrown in the water of Adiganga. It has become a backyard dustbin. Liquid wastes Water of drains from homes, water of drains from hospitals and other govt. Organizations located by the banks flow directly into the water of Adiganga. Culverts and bridges Many bridges are made over the river Adiganga and many culverts are constructed over Adiganga for facilitating movement. At many places the mouths of the culverts are bounded. Effects of Adiganga’s Degradation Degradation of Water Ecosystem Due to the pollution of water of Adiganga the flora and fauna of the river are dwindling.At present total discharge through Tolly’s Nullah is 1441.23 cusecs. The sewage water is untreated and contains effluents and solid waste. Siltation The silt discharge in the river water is very high and Adiganga being tidal in nature also bears the brunt of siltation as there is no lockgate at Hastings Bridge and Khidderpore. Mosquitoes and others insects The dirty water of Adiganga has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. This leads to various diseases and health problems among the local residents. Flood Adiganga has become a closed channel. During high tide, the river banks are flooded. The choked water of the Adiganga had been the major reason of overflow of water due to high tide.

Comparative Analysis

Very Dissimilar :1 Similar :3 Index Dissimilar : 2 Very Similar :4

Parameter/ Buriganga Adiganga Similarity Aspects Dhaka, Bangladesh Kolkata, India Index Score (1-4) Changes Observed Changes Observed Ecological Water Quality Researches showed that water is high in BOD, Water quality is very poor due to chemical COD, TDS, Salinity, Alkalinity and untreated sewage, effluents and solid low in DO. So Water quality is very poor with waste. 3 high health risk and ecological disruption. (Akbar, Uddin, Ahsan, 2017) Pollution Water is contaminated from adjacent sources Water is highly polluted with different including municipal wastewaters and effluents types of wastes. 4 from different industries (Fatema, Begum, Zahid, Hossain, 2018)

Flora Less presence of Flora Very few presence of flora. 3

Fauna Less fishes, increased mosquito No fishes, As dirty water is the source of mosquitoes and other insects, the 2 water of Adiganga has become a breeding ground of the same. Health Impact Nearly 80% of people reported to have suffered Nearly 70% dengue hotspot there as jaundice, skin diseases or diarrhea in the reported by different news paper in watershed area, compared to about a third or current year. 3 less in the control population. (Ahsan S.N, 2019) Morphology Changes in land use pattern has observed, One wing of metro rail was established more commercial and mixed use of lands over Adi Ganga which once again made beside the banks of the river it one of the busiest networks of 3 transportation changing the land use type.

Parameter/ Buriganga Adiganga Similarity Aspects Dhaka, Bangladesh Kolkata, India Index Score (1-4) Changes Observed Changes Observed Economic Water Accommodating the main navigational No water transport. 1 Transport channel of the country, vital transformational route Water Use Direct use – irrigation, water navigation It has become a drain of waste products. 1 channel, drainage, sewage. Treated water use – drinking, daily use

Sewage The city of Dhaka discharges about 4,500 Nearly 7000 tons of solid waste is 2 tons of solid waste every day and most of it discharged every day.(mukherjee,2017) is released into the Buriganga (Wikipedia) Drainage Acts as the main artery of the drainage Acts as the main artery of the drainage 4 system of the Dhaka city system of the South Kolkata. Economy of One of the main center of economic activities One of the Central Business Districts of 3 Surrounding of the city and Old Dhaka , Bazaars, traders, the city. Regions markets, hawkers, small industries etc. Value of land Land value is high due to connectivity with Land value is maximum than rest of the 3 on banks other districts parts of south Kolkata Economic use Main river port, cheapest way to transport Very minimum use of transporting goods. 1 of the river/ goods and materials canal today Other motorized and non-motorized transports are Other transports are available 3 Transports available near the river port

Parameter/ Buriganga Adiganga Similarity Aspects Dhaka, Bangladesh Kolkata, India Index Score (1-4)

Changes Observed Changes Observed Social/ Cultural Perceived Environmental quality has been degraded environmental quality has been degraded 3 quality of due to various pollutions, stinks and foul smell Environment Social activities Sadarghat- main river port of the country, river Canal centric all types of social activities 2 of the river port centric social activities of all social class. Social/ cultural Main launch and boat terminals, numerous Crematorium around the different side of 1 use of the river cruises are offered for visitors. the river river/canal History Historically rich, once the main transport route From various official reports and letters 3 of Dhaka city we find that the colonizers invested in timely maintenance of the canal for the functioning of the water route. Water- borne traffic (including Tolly’s Canal and other canals) to Calcutta was seven times more than what was carried by the Eastern Bengal State Railway during the 19th and early 20th century (O’Malley 1998).

DISCUSSION their past glory as environmental beauty as well as functional Two cases – Buriganga and and Adiganaga have been importance as water transport channel and water source. discussed above. Analyzing the past histories, it can be clearly understood that both the rivers played significant roles in the growth of the city of Dhaka and Kolkata respectively in ancient times. And even today both the rivers have been serving the city by many means. The degradation reasons of the two rivers are kind of similar. The main reason has been the sedimentation due to lack of drenching and solid waste dumping. In both cases, the second main reason has occurred as the construction works like bridge, culverts, land encroachments, illegal buildings etc. beside the rivers. These directly impact on the land use changes around the rivers. Due to similarity in the climatic factor and city growth factors, the adverse effects due to the deterioration of the two rivers are also similar. Siltation and decreasing the navigability has been the major problems seen in these cases. Environmental pollution, water ecosystem disruption and health hazards have worsen the scenario at a much alarming level. Though Adiganag seems in a more vulnerable condition as it has almost lost its identity as river and now has become a mere ‘nullah’ or drainage channel.

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION The discussion above has been an attempt to throw light on the physical as well as the human factors responsible for the transformation of the two rivers Buriganga and Adiganga. It is recommended that the municipalities should take strict measures to prohibit untreated dumping of wastes in the river. The river sides should be reclaimed to regain their aesthetic beauty. Moreover, People’s awareness should be increased through public demonstrations, workshops and seminars to increase the mass awareness about the present fatal condition of the rivers and to find proper way outs to save the rivers from losing into oblivion. Local people should be made cognizant about the destruction already done to the rivers due to their careless attitude and the immediate necessity not to repeat the same mistakes committed before. Only then it could be expected that both rivers – Buriganag and Adiganag will revive

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