‘City of Ponds’ Cumilla lose over 100 reservoirs in two decades to suffer drain pain

The authorities have turned a blind eye to the hazardous destruction of the reservoirs

Once celebrated as the ‘City of Ponds’, Cumilla now grapples with waterlogging even after minimal rainfall, as the ponds and reservoirs have been filled up, leaving no outlet for the water to go.

Investigations reveal that over the past two decades, more than 100 ponds and reservoirs, once the pride of the city, have been filled in to make way for buildings, significantly exacerbating the waterlogging problem.

A disturbing trend of authorities neglecting their duties as ponds were openly filled for construction purposes has surfaced. Accusations are mounting against government officials for their alleged involvement in these activities.

Despite the clear environmental impact, the Department of Environment's efforts to save the water bodies have been limited to issuing warnings, with few legal actions taken against the offenders.

The local administration is accused of knowingly overlooking the environmental destruction.

Cumilla boasted over 800 ponds after gaining independence, according to senior citizens and people aware of Cumilla's history, heritage, and environment. However, today, only about 200 remain, with around a hundred ponds being filled in the past 23 years - reflecting a significant loss of these critical water bodies.

According to locals, recently, a 100-year-old pond covering an area of 0.54 hectares has been completely filled inside Cumilla Central Jail, and 40 percent of another pond covering 0.48 hectares has been filled.

In the second Muradpur area of the city, a part of the 250-year-old historical Hatipukur pond has been filled, along with 34 percent of the century-old Narayan pond on the north side, the century-old pond of Borobari adjacent to Kazipara Eidgah and mosque in Ward No. 20, and the approximately 200-year-old Kazipukur in the same area – all filled within a few years.

The 300-year-old Chhotora Janglibibi pond has also been partially filled at different times, with ongoing efforts to fill the pond.

The ponds that have been filled up in Cumilla over the past 23 years include Jhautala Khan Shaheb's pond, Lucky House pond, two ponds beside Kasem ul Ulum Madrasa, Nadipa Housing pond, South Chartha's Thira pond, Telia pond in North Chartha, three ponds including Kalimandir pond in Sangraish area, two ponds in Suparibagan of Cumilla Bhasha Soinik Ajit Guha College, Bara Andar pond at Darogabari, Jonader pond on the south side of Farida Bidyayatan, Jhautala Christian Para pond, four ponds of Professor Para, two ponds behind Kotwali Police Station, and several ponds of Cumilla Police Lines and Roads and Highways Department on the banks of Dharmasagar Dighi.

Reviewing incidents from the past, it is evident that the administration has not restored a single pond.

The uncontrolled filling of reservoirs, including ponds, has significantly contributed to the increased waterlogging in Cumilla city.

Expressing concern over this situation, environmentalists emphasise the need for strict measures by the administration to protect the remaining ponds.

They warn that without intervention, Cumilla may lose all its ponds.

In 2015, two large ponds in the Christian Para of Jhautala area in Ward No. 10, were filled.

Currently, Mohammad Yusuf is constructing a five-storey building on one of these ponds.

Three floors of the building on the erstwhile pond have already been completed. Yusuf was not at home.

His wife Roksana Akhter said Yusuf, an expatriate, bought the land in 2018 and started constructing the house. The work is not done yet.

Roksana claims that this house is being built with the approval of the city corporation. They were aware that there was a pond on this land previously, but she said they did not fill it in.

The family of a man named Khorshed Alam has filled another large pond nearby. After the filling, a business establishment has been built on one side. Efforts are ongoing to construct a multi-storey building on the other side.

At Alam's house, there was no one available to provide information about the business built on the pond.

A 70-year-old resident in the area mentioned that both ponds were over a century old. Many locals resisted the filling of these ponds.

"But by manipulating the administration, shops and houses have been constructed here after the ponds were filled. Currently, the situation is such that if a fire breaks out in the area, there will be no water available to extinguish it," the senior citizen said.

The elderly man further explained that about a decade ago, the family members of late Hafiz Uddin filled a large pond in the WAPDA Office area on Shaheed Shamsul Haque Road next to the Nagar Bhaban of Cumilla City Corporation.

Two multi-storey buildings have already been built there, and a 13-storey building is currently under construction, with half of the building located on the filled area of the pond.

Locals said three of Hafiz's four daughters sold their property after the pond was filled, where these buildings have now been constructed.

Only the eldest daughter Ranu, who is identified by a single name and lives in the United States, has not sold her property yet.

The company developing the building declined to comment. Officials who did nit give their names claimed they are constructing the building with the city approval from City Corporation.

Historian and researcher Ahsanul Kabir from Cumilla recalls, "Once, Cumilla had fewer residents, but every house had a pond, and some had two. Around our home in the city’s Bajrapur, where I was born, I’d seen seven or eight ponds."

"The ponds no longer exist; multi-storey buildings have replaced them. Cumilla used to have many lakes before. Some of these lakes, like Dak Bungalow Dighi in the Shashangachha area after independence and Ananda Sagar Dighi on EPZ road during the Pakistan period, were filled. There are still a few lakes remaining, but the ponds are gone.

"Cumilla was once a neat city with numerous lakes and ponds. According to my research, over 100 years ago, there were more than a thousand ponds in Cumilla. Now, it's hard to find a pond.

"We used to be captivated by the calm water in front of almost every house. The cool breeze from the ponds refreshed our bodies and minds. Due to filling up these natural reservoirs, the city faces waterlogging even with minimal rainfall."

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, president of the Cumilla wing of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), alleged the government has been filling ponds systematically for years.

Recently, the jail authorities constructed several 14-story buildings by filling a large water body and two ponds.

"In addition, the police and Roads and Highways Department have built structures after filling ponds. Our protests could not prevent a single instance of pond filling. The existence of ponds in Cumilla, known as the ‘City of Ponds’, is now in jeopardy."

Ali Akbar Masum, general secretary of BAPA and former general secretary of Socheton Nagorik Committee (Sonac) in Cumilla, said no government office in the city has records of the number of ponds. “According to our information, there were more than 500 ponds in the Cumilla city area before 2000. Currently, there are at most 200 ponds left."

"At present, the district and Upazila administrations, city corporations, and other concerned government departments need to take initiatives to protect the remaining ponds. If proper actions had been taken in the past, this situation would not have arisen. Government institutions filling ponds are encouraging others to do the same."

Shafiqul Islam Sikder, former vice-president of Cumilla Victoria Government College Students' Union, said: "Even after independence, there were more than 800 ponds in Cumilla city. The large-scale filling of ponds began before the 1980s. Currently, there is not a single pond left in the city, and none have been restored after filling. Every pond has now been replaced by a large building."

Jasim Uddin, a resident of the Jhautola area, said there was a pond outside every house in this area 20 to 25 years ago. “Now, there is not a single pond left even for washing hands in the entire Jhautola area. Almost all the ponds have been filled by now. Luxurious multi-storey buildings have taken their place. It's hard to believe there were once ponds here."

Md Kamal Hossain, a resident of the city's housing area, said that ponds and water bodies are filled tactfully.

"When the administration initially obstructs the filling, the offenders remain silent for a few days. Afterward, sometimes in the darkness of night, and sometimes by manipulating the administration, they resume filling. The administration hasn't been able to prevent a single filling in the past. Cumilla is no longer a city of banks and tanks; it's become a city of filling (ponds)."

The Cumilla office of the Department of Environment filed four cases last year for pond filling in the city. The office began its operations in 2011, and apart from 2023, only one case has been filed against pond fillers in all these years.

Several people were called in with notices and fined with the condition to restore the ponds, but none of the ponds have been restored to their original state.

Mosabber Hossain Mohammad Rajib, the deputy director of the DoE in Cumilla, said the four cases in 2023 were filed against individuals and government institutions involved in filling activities. The reports have been forwarded to the ministry.

"Legal proceedings against those responsible for filling water bodies and ponds are ongoing. No one will be allowed to fill ponds in Cumilla in any circumstances. We will take strict action against violators of the law, regardless of their influence or status."

Md Shamsul Alam, chief executive officer of Cumilla City Corporation, said he could not comment on the matter because it is the “responsibility of the district administration to prevent the filling of ponds”.

When asked about the city corporation granting permission to construct a multi-storey building on a pond, Alam said, "I took office at the end of last year, and no such permissions have been granted since then. If it occurred in the past, it was done illegally, which is clearly unfair."

Kabirul Islam Khan, the additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Cumilla, said they maintain a list of government ponds, but they do not have information on private ponds.

“During my tenure, I have not seen a single pond in Cumilla city being filled in the past one and a half to two years.

"We are adopting a strict stance on this issue," he added. "If I receive a complaint, I take immediate action. Legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to fill ponds or water bodies."

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi]