Alpona threatens haor, attempted without permission: Department of Environment

The celebration of Bengali New Year in Kishoreganj‍‍`s Ashtagram Haor witnessed a lengthy alpona artwork spanning 14 kilometers along the ‍‍`All Weather‍‍` road and the Department of Environment voiced apprehensions that the hues from the alpona could pose a significant ecological threat to the aquatic biodiversity of the haor.

The  Department recommended Urgent measures and environmentally-friendly processes for the removal of these colors. Earlier, concerns arose over potential damage to the aquatic ecosystem of the haor due to the mixing of colors in the water, sparking debates through social media channels.

For reading more: Environmental concern or provocation: Controversy surrounds world’s longest Alpana drawing in Mithamin Haor

Last Sunday, the Department of Environment, along with the Kishoreganj administration, submitted a report following an inspection. Assistant Director Abdullah Al Matin signed the report, which raised several issues.

The report highlighted that no approval was sought from any governmental authority before initiating the alpona artwork. Additionally, it noted that neither the Department of Environment nor the Roads and Highways Department granted permission for this project. Surprisingly, even the local administration was unaware of the alpona until its unveiling by three private organizations on the occasion of Boishakh.

Issues that emerged in the report:

1. The pigments from this road-based Alpona will degrade the water‍‍`s clarity.

2. Aquatic ecosystems face dire consequences as sunlight struggles to penetrate the depths of opaque water.

3. The report advises prompt removal of road paint using environmentally friendly methods to safeguard the environment.

Berger Paints, Banglalink Digital Communication, and Asiatic Experiential Marketing Limited executed the world‍‍`s longest Alpana painting project on haor Road.