A one day long research
dissimination and sharing meeting of the peri-urban project was held at Khulna
City Corporation (KCC) on October 15, 2012. The Institute of Water and Flood
Management (IWFM) of BUET, Environmental Science Department of Khulna
University, Institute of Livelihood Studies
(ILS) and the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) jointly organized this
sharing meeting to discuss the research findngs of the IDRC funded action-research
project - “Water Security in Peri-Urban South Asia: Adaptining to Climate
Change and Urbanization”. The KCC Mayor invited Ward Councellors of 31 wards in
KCC to discuss the research findings and water security issues in Khulna.
In the opening session, Project Leader Professor Dr. M. Shah Alam Khan discussed the research agenda and briefed the project overview to the invited participants. Professor Khan said that they were very happy to see a positive response of the KCC on the research findings of the project at Khulna. We are really thankful to him and for his active support in the research process.
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| KCC Mayor Mr. Talukder Abdul Khaleque (left) giving his speech to invited Ward Commissioners in the research sharing meeting held on October 15, 2012 in Khulna |
Professor Dr. Dilip
Kumar Datta of Khulna University presented the research findings in the sharing
meeting and called for a stategic action to save the river Mayur which helps in
providing water security to peri-urban
Khulna. Prof. Datta also conveyed that the groundwater resources of KCC contain
very high amout of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and surface water bodies are
highly polluted due to solid waste and wastewater discharges form the KCC area.
He added that illegal encroachment of the natural Khals ( or canals) and drainage canals have been causing serious water
logging problem in the city and the periphery. Professor Datta also said that
KCC has no other alternate way but to save the river Mayur for long term water
security in Khulna.
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| KCC Mayor Mr. Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Ward Commissioners and civil society people discussing on ‘Save the Mayur’ |
Mayur River is a
surface water source in Khulna, said Professor Datta and his research team.
Professor Datta also added that his reaearch team had already conducted several
studies on Mayur, and now from their research findings it is very much evident
that Mayur River can no longer be used as a potential surface water source in
Khulna. Various studies on geo-chemical, geomorphological, wastewater
characterization, hydrochemistry, conflict in water use and cost-benefits
analysis of Mayur river have already been completed. Thus, Proffesor Datta on
behalf of the peri-urban research team announced that if KCC authority is willig
to take up activites to save the river, the research team is ready to provide
research and other technical support to the KCC.
About 31 lakh gallon/day
effluent is discharged from the KCC into the Mayur River system. However, it is
advised that this huge effluent should be treated before final discharge to the
Mayur River. Considering this case, a small scale ETP could be an effective
option for KCC.
In the discussion
session, KCC Mayor Mr. Talukder Abdul Khaleque expressed their commitment to
save the Mayur and other natural Khals in the KCC. He said that some powerful land-grabbers
with political support destroyed the KCC’s Khals in the name lease. He clearly
expressed his desire in saving Khulna and its people. He told that KCC is taking action without political
consideration and hopes that it does so every time. He informed that he already
aksed the District Commissioner permission for excavating conneting canals in
KCC and he believes that within his time period; he will be able to save 22-Khals
from the grabbers. He claims that KDA has a Master Plan but it is not put into
action. There are no activities to implement the Master Plan. He requested the
ward councellors to motivate local people against any illegal work that could
harm the peoples’ interest and their environment. Mayor also requested the
research team to discuss the same issues and research results with with KDA and
other authorities. Mayor ensured that he will help the research team to implement
any work in future that will provide benefits for Khulna’s people.
In the end, Professor
Khan said that Mayur River is not only important for water security but also its
benefits are ecological. Mayor communicated that the discussion and output of
this meeting will be shared with District Comissioner. He requested the
research team to submit a proposal to save the Mayur. Finally, he stated that he is ready to face
any big challenge to implement good work
for Khulna and its people.
