Zakir Azad, Cumilla

In the city of Cumilla , water logging occurs in light rains. The city has also had a show-down of waterlogging at the onset of the monsoon. Citizens believe that this flooding can be reduced a lot if more than half a hundred fun ponds in the city are renovated.

The number of these fun ponds is increasing day by day. By throwing garbage, creating a fun pond somewhere. It was found that the pond adjacent to the old Chaudhurpara T&T Mosque in the city is not being cleaned for a long time.

There is a lot of dirt in it. Banana trees grow inside the pond. Nazir Pond in Mughaltuli area has been abandoned for two centuries. Garbage is being dumped in the Curzon Kuti pond next to the Department of Environment office in Kaptan Bazar area.

However, the signboards have been hung to prevent littering. Meanwhile, some small ponds in the western part of Kaptan Bazar area were seen to be filled with garbage.

Omar Faruqi Tapas, a resident of Moghlatuli area, said that the water of Nazir pond was very clean. In 1987-88, I bathed and swam in this pool.

The people of the area will benefit if the pond is renovated. Rafiqul Islam Sohel, the organizer of Alokit Bajrapur organization, said that various ponds in the city, including a pond in Thakurpara behind the education board, have become unfit for use. If the ponds were usable, children could swim. Planting trees on the banks can enhance the beauty of the environment and make walkways for walking.

General Secretary of Bangladesh Environment Movement Cumilla Ali Akbar Masum said that the pond of Cumilla city is disappearing day by day. There is no alternative to ponds in maintaining the balance of the environment. Ponds with accumulated dirt should be cleaned.

In this regard, the district administration, city corporation and environment department should take a more strict role. Cumilla City Corporation Chief Engineer GP Chowdhury said, We have recently issued a notification to renovate the city's ponds.

The mayor is very sincere about it. We will start working on it in a few days. If the owners of the pond are not able to repair it, we will help them. We hope this will reduce flooding. Mosquitoes will decrease. Along with this, the water demand will be met and the beauty of the environment of the area will increase.