Experts at a discussion stressed the need for protecting natural water bodies like ponds and canals from chemical pollution to save the environment and preserve public health. They opined that the poor and marginal population, including the ethnic minority communities in the vast Barind tract, needed easy access to the existing natural water resources. They mentioned that the ponds and canals were gradually being polluted and contaminated due to various reasons, including indiscriminate using of chemicals and insecticides, which posed a serious threat to the living and livelihood conditions of the marginalised people. They came up with the observation while addressing a civic dialogue styled Water resources free from chemicals and pesticides to protect live, environment and public health’ at Tanore Upazila Complex auditorium in the district yesterday. Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge organised the dialogue to press home the demands. Upazila nirbahi officer Chowdhury Golam Rabbi, assistant engineer of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Shariful Islam, assistant engineer of Department of Public Health Engineering Rabiul Islam and national agriculture awardee farmers Yousuf Ali Mollah and Nur Muhammad were present, among others. During his keynote presentation, regional coordinator of BARCIK Shahidul Islam said that the Barind region’s ponds and other water bodies were being polluted due to use of overrated chemical fertilisers and pesticides during fish farming. The amount of pesticide residues found in vegetables, fruits and crops posed serious health risks for the human body, especially in children. Fish farmers and other farmers in the region applied various types of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to boost production. However, they did not follow necessary guidelines or safety standards to get rid of the pesticide residue. The development activist said pesticides were potentially toxic to human bodies and could cause acute and chronic health hazards.