A severe heat wave is blowing across the country. Among these, Jessore’s name is being discussed again and again. Because the highest temperature of the country has been recorded in this district. In the past few days, people’s lives have been suffering due to the continuous heat. Bitumen on various roads in the district is melting due to ‘extreme temperature’. However, the bitumen of the entire road is not melting. Some are melting in some places. The question is why the bitumen of the road is melting?
Engineers of the Roads and Highways Department said that the bitumen of some parts of the road is melting mainly due to the extreme temperature. However, contractors involved in road construction do not agree with this. They gave different information.
The contractors said some parts of the road were melting due to shortage in use of high temperature resistant bitumen. Again this is due to not using enough advanced bitumen in those parts.
Environmental scientists say, not only Jessore, but the temperature is increasing in the whole country. Deforestation is not the only reason. There are several other reasons. Check them out. There is no alternative to planting trees to save the environment.
Amirul Azad, officer-in-charge of the Khulna Meteorological Office, said that in the last few days, people’s lives were suffering due to continuous heat waves in Jessore. Jessore recorded the second highest temperature on April 24 at 41.2 degrees Celsius. Maximum Mongla is 41.6 degrees Celsius. On April 23, the highest temperature in that district was 40.4 degrees, before that on April 22 the maximum was 40.6 (Chuadanga and Jessore), on April 21 Jessore recorded a temperature of 40.2 degrees and on April 20 the temperature was recorded at 42.6 degrees Celsius. This is the highest temperature so far this year. Such temperatures will continue for a few more days.
Bitumen on various roads of Jessore is melting in such intense heat. This scene was seen in parts of Jessore-Jhenaidah road, Jessore-Khulna road, Jessore-Narail road.
Ordinary bitumen has to be bought from some regulated traders
When asked why the bitumen of some parts of the highway is melting, a contractor involved in road construction told the Bengali Tribune on the condition of anonymity, “Earlier the road was less built. We used to procure bitumen from various oil companies including Padma, Yamuna. A lot of road work is going on now. That’s why they are not able to supply that amount. Bitumen was once imported from Iran. Closed now. As a result domestic general grade i.e. liquid bitumen has to be used. High temperature resistant bitumen is not used for good reason. The local market has to buy from “some regulated traders”. The kind of bitumen they supply, it is not really possible to build quality roads. Because of this, bitumen is quickly destroyed or is melting if it is too hot.’
The use of liquid bitumen is high in road construction
Engineers associated with road construction said that two types of bitumen are marketed in the country. A 60-70 grade, which is darker. This class of bitumen is improved and durable when used in road pitch casting. And 80-100 grade bitumen is slightly liquid. If the pitch is poured with liquid bitumen, the road is not durable. 80-100 grade bitumen quality means it is liquid or thin, so the roads melt in summer and take the shape of mounds or waves. It creates numerous small and big potholes on the road. Again, during the monsoons, bitumen of 80-100 grade deteriorates quickly and creates potholes on the roads.
According to Jessore Roads and Public Roads Department, 80-100 grade bitumen is used on roads that can withstand temperatures below 32 degrees Celsius. Later 60-70 grade bitumen was used on more temperature tolerant roads. Some roads were built several years ago. Basically 80-100 grade bitumen is used there. That is why they can melt.
When asked about this, another contractor, on condition of anonymity, said, ‘In the direction of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, instead of 80-100 grade, dark bitumen of 60-70 grade was used. But the Roads and Highways Department does not take any effective steps to implement the instructions of the Ministry. However, 80-100 grade is used in some places, but 60-70 grade is used in most of the roads.
The Roads and Highways Department is talking about summer
When asked about this, Mahbub Haider Khan, sub-divisional engineer of Jessore road and highway department, said, ‘The bitumen on the road is melting mainly because of the temperature. Jessore has been experiencing extreme temperatures for the past few days. Bitumen is melting somewhere at this temperature; We know such news.’
An engineer of the Roads and Highways Department told the Bengali Tribune, “National Highway or N-7 is currently being worked on in Jessore region. (N-7 is a national highway of Bangladesh connecting Daulatdia Ferry Ghat near the capital and Mongla Port in Bagerhat. It passes through some of the largest cities and towns in the southwestern region, including Faridpur, Magura, Jhenaidah, Jessore and Khulna). In doing this, many trees along the highway have been cut down. As a result, the shade of the tree does not fall. It’s getting hotter than ever. The bitumen would not melt like this if there was shade from the trees and cold air flow over the road.’
There is no alternative to planting trees
Associate Professor of Department of Environmental Science and Technology of Jessore University of Science and Technology talked about these issues. With Nazneen Nahar. He said, ‘If trees are cut, there will be a negative impact on the environment. But they have to be accepted for the sake of development. Look at America-Japan, their pollution is much higher. There are more industries, more cars and AC usage. It is not just that pollution is increasing due to deforestation. There are several other reasons. They have to be identified through research. We have to focus on reducing the pollution further. Besides, there is no alternative to planting more trees to keep the environment cool.’
Also read: Road bitumen is melting in Jessore due to intense heat
