A dire environmental crisis unfolds as the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong transforms into a crimson waterway, the aftermath of burnt sugar waste discharged from the S Alam Super Refined Sugar Industries Limited factory. The contamination has led to widespread fatalities among diverse aquatic species, including fish and crabs.
The alarming situation surfaced on Tuesday, with local residents witnessing lifeless and unconscious fish drifting along the river’s surface.
Directly channeling from the S Alam factory through a drain, the burnt sugar waste has tinted the Karnaphuli River’s waters, spanning several kilometers with a reddish hue.
In specific, the affected areas witness a distressing toll on fish and other organisms, prompting concerns from environmental authorities, activists, and local communities.
Ferdous Anwar, the director of the environment department’s Chittagong office, voiced his concern, stating, “Samples were collected from different locations. The matter can be confirmed after receiving the lab report. Fish and other biodiversity are dying or weakened due to the decrease in oxygen content in the water.”
Environmentalists emphasize the absence of adequate waste disposal facilities at the S Alam factory, heightening the risk of irreversible environmental damage.
Dr. Idris Ali warns of the irreversible nature of environmental damage and urges law enforcement agencies to address the situation promptly.
Dr. Manjurul, a Halda River researcher, underscores the potential consequences of pollutants, stating, “These extra compounds, whether sugar or something else, will degrade the quality of the water. This will result in a vacuum of oxygen in the water, significantly losing aquatic biodiversity.”
S Alam Group General Manager (Admin) Akhtar Hasan disputes claims, asserting that burnt sugar does not directly enter the Karnaphuli and that waste is appropriately managed within their facilities, posing no harm to the river or aquatic biodiversity.
Providing insight into the fire control challenges, Fire Service Assistant Director MD Abdul Malek explains that the stored unrefined sugar in warehouse number 1 was highly flammable.
The devastating fire, erupting on Monday, inflicted extensive damage, with over 100,000 tons of raw sugar burnt, amounting to a market value exceeding Tk1,000 crores.
