A Correspondent
Boko: In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Clean India Mission, Swachh Bharat, to improve waste management and end open defecation. But in the Boko market area, the Swachh Bharat Mission has failed, particularly in the Boko river, which serves as a dustbin there. As a result, the river is completely contaminated with filthy trash, plastic items, and meat and fish waste, among other things.
The Boko River originates in the West Khasi Hills district of the neighbouring state of Meghalaya and is fed by streams and small rivers flowing from the mountains surrounding the Boko region. The Boko River eventually joins the mighty Brahmaputra River as a tributary. Unfortunately, some people have used the river as a dustbin and destroyed the natural environment of the river and the area.
In the Boko Market area in Borpara revenue village, there is a bridge of NH 17 across the Boko River, and people toss all of their filthy trash into the river from the bridge. "I always used to tell the shopkeepers and some people not to dump dirty garbage, including in the river," said Bijay Rabha, who works in the RHAC's inspection bungalow beside the river. However, they consistently arrive and dump filthy trash into the river, including leftover meat and fish.
According to Anupam Rabha of Kaliabori village, the Boko river's pollution has had an impact on several villages, including Borpara, Kaliabori, Nabapur, and Bakarapara. Cattle are not drinking the river water because, as Anupam Rabha emphasised, the situation has gotten worse and the water is now poisoned, smelly, sticky and oily. Rabha said, "Many Hindu marriage and other rituals require a river to be completed, but the pollution in the Boko River makes it difficult to perform these kinds of rites today." Rabha also said that the contaminants and particulates are seeping into the river bed or soil and polluting groundwater sources such as wells and boreholes.
When questioned, Ranjit Doloi, President of the new committee of Boko Market said that though the previous committee didn't take any actions to save the river in the last 21 years, the newly formed committee is taking the matter as a serious issue. Therefore, the committee has decided to discuss the matter at their first executive meeting, and if needed, fines will be imposed on whoever dumps their garbage in the river. Durgeswar Rabha, General Secretary of the new Market Committee said that more than 450 shops including vegetable shops, fruit shops, hotels, clothing shops, electronic shops, fish and meat's shops etc are there in the Boko Market Area. Regarding the matter, Boko Circle Officer Dibash Bordoloi said that he will discuss the matter with the Boko Block development Officer and will find solutions to clean the water.
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