At least 80 percent of the city's ponds have been filled up in last eight years, finds a study by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) in Rajshahi.

Even more than 35 percent of government khas ponds have been filled both legally and illegally during that period, added the study.

Different government institutions, non-government bodies and individuals were responsible for filling up the ponds, it said.

The findings were presented at a discussion held at a city hotel on Wednesday. The discussion on "Existential crisis of ponds and water bodies of Rajshahi city" was chaired by Prof Dipakendra Nath Das, president of Shacheton Nagorik Committee.

Tanmay Sanyal, coordinator of Bela's Rajshahi office, presented the study. Analysing government documents, the study said there were at least a thousand ponds in the city in 2014. Of these, less than 200 ponds exist now, many of which are in the process of filling.

The city had at least 48 khas ponds, of which 19 used to carry water for all year round till 2014. But 17 out of the 19 ponds were filled up in the eight years. Of the filled-up ponds, nine were legally filled, and no government approval were found behind filling up of eight other khas ponds.

It also said, the "Rajshahi Metropolitan Development Plan (2004-2024)" prepared by the Rajshahi Development Authority identified many ponds that should be protected, but the authorities didn't take any steps to prevent filling of ponds.

Rajshahi's deputy commissioner Abdul Jalil attended the discussion as chief guest.

The study suggested that RDA preserve the ponds identified in RDA's master plan.