Waterlogging in the city of Dhaka has become a perennial problem. Decades passed, but little has been done to remove this nagging trouble. As a consequence, public sufferings compounded over the years.
Now it augurs well that Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has identified 33 waterlogging hotspots within the areas under its jurisdiction and launched a month-long special cleaning drive to mitigate waterlogging ahead of the monsoon when the problem becomes acute. DSCC administrator Md Abdus Salam very recently inaugurated the programme through cleaning up a DSCC box culvert in the capital’s Segunbagicha. In order to relieve residents from sufferings caused by waterlogging during monsoon, DSCC has already taken multifaceted initiatives, including cleaning canals and box culverts.
Meanwhile Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) recently inaugurated around 4km of road and drainage development work from Mirpur to Taltola to address the area’s long standing waterlogging problem. DNCC administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan said the construction of the road, along with drains and sewerage on both sides would significantly reduce waterlogging in the area.
These initiatives of the two city corporations to ameliorate the sufferings of the city dwellers deserve plaudits from all quarters. Cleaning work on four DSCC box culverts in the capital has already started.
Although the scheduled timeframe is five months, special instructions have been given to complete waste removal and ensure water flow within one month considering the monsoon is ahead.
According to experts, Dhaka currently has only three drainage outlets—Kamalapur (TT Para), Dholai Khal, and hatirjheel—which serve approximately109 square kilometres; but they are inadequate for the city’s needs. The DSCC is planning to build two additional outlets—one for the New Market-Dhanmondi area and another for the Old Dhaka at Sowarighat . DSCC has also identified critical waterlogging spots and is working to improve drainage in those areas.
There are at least 24 canals and four box culverts within the DSCC areas and the corporation aims at cleaning all four culverts within one month, although the full project may take up to five months. To do the work with speed the corporation has also procured portable pumps for emergency drainage and repaired existing outlets for immediate use.
As part of canal restoration efforts, projects are ongoing to restore flow and improve the environment of Jirani, Shyampur, Kalunagar and Manda canals. Once the approximately 2.85km long culvert stretching from Shilpakala Academy to the TT para pump station- is cleaned, around ten lakh residents of Segunbagicha, the Secretariat area, Paltan, Motijheel, nayapaltan, and adjoining areas will directly be benefited. Six new portable pumps have been kept ready to remove quickly the accumulated water after downpour. Besides, a consulting firm has been appointed to modernize the drainage master plan.
However, maintaining a clean city and reducing waterlogging is an equally shared responsibility among the residents and the city corporation. The city dwellers must not spread litters or dispose of wastes in Canals and drains to help stop waterlogging.
