Munshi Pukur, an age-old pond located in Sholak Bahor area of Chattogram city, is at risk of oblivion due to illegal occupation and negligence of the authorities supposedly responsible for its conservation.

On a recent visit to the pond, this correspondent observed that a portion of its demarcation boundary has become dismantled, leaving it at risk of falling prey to illegal grabbers. A net was seen installed to cover up the area, but none from the locality could say who installed the net.

A tree from the unprotected bank of the pond was seen uprooted and had fallen into the pond, polluting its water. Locals said the tree fell several months ago, but no steps were taken to remove it from the site.

Wishing anonymity, some locals said several youths have been hanging out on the net-covered portion of the pond's unprotected bank every evening, and expressed concern that the pond may be illegally occupied unless steps are taken to protect it.

The pond was dug by the ancestors of Abdus Sobhan Sawdagor in 1931. Now, it is a property of Abdus Sobhan Sawdagor Waqf Estate, said Shahidul Islam, an official of the estate.

"For decades, locals have been using the pond for bathing, and using its water for domestic use, as its water was clean and transparent, while there was no other pond in the area," said Siraj Miah, 70, a local resident.

Due to high land prices in the city, grabbers have long been trying to occupy the pond. Some local influentials had dismantled a portion of the pond's boundary in 2012 as part of such malicious intent, he alleged.

As locals protested, officials from Department of Environment, Chattogram City Corporation, Chattogram District Administration and Chattogram Development Authority visited the pond at that time and gave assurances of taking steps to conserve the pond, he also said.

The High Court in 2016 passed an order to conserve the pond after Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, an environmental and human rights organisation, had filed a writ petition with the court seeking its order in this regard.

The HC also ordered to evict all illegal structures within the pond's boundary, and asked the CCC mayor, CDA chairman and DoE director to comply with the order.

Despite the HC order, the concerned authorities took no initiative to protect the pond over the past nine years, said Alauddin Jewel, another local resident.

Manzill Murshid, president of HRPB's executive committee, said protecting Munshi Pukur is of immense importance for conserving the local environment and welfare of the residents.

Contacted, Engr Nurul Karim, chairman of CDA, said he was aware of the matter.

"I have discussed the matter with the CCC mayor and we both agreed on taking measures to conserve the pond. Initiatives will be taken in this regard after Eid-ul-Fitr," he said.

Contacted, CCC mayor Shahadat Hosain echoed his thoughts.