Buriganga River Water Restoration

1. 1. POLLUTION SCENARIO AND POSSIBLE REMEDIAL MEASURES OF THE

BURIGANGA RIVER OF BANGLADESH Presented By MAK Khan (Sipon) e-mail:
mak_sipon@yahoo.co.uk

2. 2. INDEX Introduction Types of Pollution Pollution Source Present Scenario

Remedial Measures References

3. 3. INTRODUCTION Buriganga surrounded by a peripheral river system comprising

Buriganga, Balu, Turag, Tongi Khal, and Lakhaya. Length 18km. This river has
enormous significance to the residents of Dhaka City, the capital of Bangladesh. Not
only does it surround two sides of the city, it provides important services to the
residents, including water supply, navigation, recreation, sanitation and flood control.

4. 4. INTRODUCTION This vital river however has become extremely polluted and is
close to biological death for several reasons. The tremendous increase in population
over the last three decades has created enormous environmental problems, including
among others the disposal of solid waste, sewage and drainage problems.

5. 5. INTRODUCTION For this, the sources and occurrences of river pollution should
be studied carefully and deserves an urgent adoption and implementation of necessary
measures to recover the natural ecosystem of the rivers and to restore the water quality
of the river Buriganga.

6. 6. TYPES OF POLLUTION Physical Pollution Chemical Pollution Biological

Pollution

7. 7. POLLUTION SOURCES Pollutants are mainly generated in and around the city
through domestic, commercial and industrial activities. Wastewater and sewage
generated in the city are carried into the river system through numerous outlets. The
river is affected along its course by both point and non- point sources of pollution.

8. 8. POLLUTION SOURCES Point Source Pollution Encroachment Solid Waste

Untreated Sewerage Industrial Pollution from Tannery & other industries Terminal
& Landing Station Overloaded Pagla Sewage Treatment Plant

9. 9. POLLUTION SOURCES

10. 10. POLLUTION SOURCES Non-Point Source Pollution Land run-off caused
mainly by rainfall, precipitation, atmospheric deposition, drainage, seepage and
hydrologic modification Wastes are often disposed of at roadside open dumps which
are very likely to be washed away by runoff to the storm sewer.

11. 11. PRESENT SCENARIO River depth decreasing due to sludge deposition hence
affecting the navigation. Tanneries of Hazaribagh, chemical industry of Tejgaon and
many other factories poisonous wastes are falling down in the river without any
treatment. Not only from tanneries, has waste matter from thousands of latrines on
both sides of the river been connected with the flow From the launches and engine
 vessels in Sadarghat and dockyard areas, there are discharges kerosene and Mobil oil.
Human excretas and other waste from the floating vessels are spilled. These wastes
contaminate the river water affecting its aquatic life and ecological health.

12. 12. REMEDIAL MEASURES It is essential to make provision for protection and
improving water quality of the Buriganga river to sustain the ecosystem in this river
and overall environment of the Dhaka city. Hazaribagh tanneries are responsible for
causing pollution in the Buriganga river by the contribution of toxic and persistent
pollutants, for that an Effluent Treatment plant (ETP) should be established without
delay. Pagla sewage Treatment plant will need to be expanded to handle extra
pollution load.

13. 13. REMEDIAL MEASURES Uproot every kind of pollution making industry
including tannery from both sides of the Buriganga river. Proper dredging of the
existing river and removing non degradable matters from the river bed. Proper laws
should be enforced from the Department of Environment to reduce the pollution of
river water from adjacent pollution.

14. 14. References Ahmed MF. 1988. Effect of Pollution Discharges of the River
Buriganga, Water Pollution Control in Asia, ed. Thongchai Panswad, et al, Pergamon
Press, 1988. Akter KS. 2007. Studies on Water Quality in the Peripheral River
system Around Dhaka city. B.Sc. Engineering project report, Department of Civil
Engineering, BUET, Dhaka. Alam K. 2003. Cleanup of the Buriganga River:
integrating the environment into decision making. PhD Dissertatiion.Perth, Murdoch
University. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), 2006. Ministry of
Water Resources, Government of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport
Authority(BIWTA), 2001

15. 15. Thank You