Filling up ponds and wetlands and the consequent unplanned construction on such reclaimed spaces has increased in recent years in Magura, putting the region’s ecological balance at risk.
This increase is attributed to the absence of a regulatory department, specifically devoted to check such incidents. Rapid increase in population and steep increase in land prices are the other factors responsible.
Rova, a local organisation, estimated that at least 50 ponds of the town had been filled up in the last five years, in a clear breach of the country’s environmental laws.
Almost always, it said, the purpose was to construct buildings on the filled up spaces. .
As the number of ponds and wetlands decreased, so did the fish habitats and fisheries, adversely affecting the district’s aquatic ecosystem.
Chandra Shekhor Nondi, the fishery officer of the district, said the rise in reclaiming ponds and wetlands is really worrying.
“To fill up a pond, an approval from the environment directorate is needed. But as there is no office of the directorate in Magura, those filling up ponds illegally can hope to get away scot-free,” he said.
Locals said indiscriminate earth-filling has also given rise to another problem: waterlogging.
Earlier, when there were more ponds and wetlands, rainwater would find its way into the water bodies, and the streets remained free of water logging.
Now, whenever it rains, streets are waterlogged and often remain so for weeks together.
In case of fire accidents, fire fighters also have to face difficulty in collecting sufficient water to extinguish the blaze.
