Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 12 JAN: In a powerful display of environmental activism, 75 organisations united under the banner of Jalangi Nadi Samaj gathered on Friday in Krishnagar to stage a symbolic hunger strike, urging the administration to take immediate action to save the rivers in Nadia from an impending environmental catastrophe.
The rivers in question, including Jalangi, Anjana, Churni, Mathabhanga and Ichamati, are facing a dire state of deterioration due to various anthropogenic pressures such as indiscriminate waste dumping, riverbed encroachment for irrigation, bridge construction, and the decomposition of jute in their waters. The concerned citizens, recognizing the urgency of the situation, took to the streets to raise awareness about the critical condition of these lifelines.
During the protest, the activists utilized various forms of expression, including street plays, songs, and dramas, to convey the gravity of the environmental crisis. The dire strait of the rivers, which are essential for the livelihoods of many residents of Nadia, has become a matter of grave concern.
The local organisation, Jalangi Nadi Samaj, has been at the forefront of efforts to preserve and raise awareness about the rivers’ plight. Initiating Jalangi PathSalas in schools across the district, the organisation aims to educate students and parents about the slow demise of the Jalangi river due to anti-nature and anti-river activities.
In a bold act of protest, activists from Jalangi Nadi Samaj, Paschim Banga Bigyan Manch, and concerned citizens had recently joined forces to reconnect the Anjana river with the Jalangi river at its source point near Smashan Kali Bari in Krishnagar. The Anjana River, a 29 km waterway in the Bhagirathi-Hooghly basin, had been gradually dwindling due to human encroachment and lack of proper maintenance.
Debanjan Bagchi, an activist from Jalangi Nadi Samaj, expressed frustration, stating, “All rivers flowing across Nadia districts are in dire strait. Every river has its own problems.” He highlighted the specific challenges each river faces, emphasizing the need for the government to identify and address these issues to restore the natural flow of the rivers.
Indranil Chatterjee, an activist of Jalangi Nadi Samaj and member of APDR, emphasized the erosion of people’s natural rights on water, forest, and earth. He stated, “Scores of people are directly dependent on the rivers, but most of the rivers are in dire strait due to several reasons.” Civil liberties organisations are acting as a pressure group before the government, urging them to address the demands for environmental preservation.
Sudeshna Ghosh, an activist of Jalangi Nadi Samaj, echoed the sentiment, stressing the essential need to save the rivers from an impending catastrophe. She called upon the administration to focus on the grave situation and take proactive measures to preserve these vital resources for the sake of society and its people.
As the activists continue their efforts to draw attention to the deteriorating state of Nadia’s rivers, the hope is that their collective voice will prompt meaningful action from the administration to ensure the preservation of these lifelines for future generations.
Tags: #JalangiNadiSamaj #HungerStrike #Krishnagar #JalangiRiver #Anjana #Churni
