Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have spent crores of taka to free the capital Dhaka from the perennial waterlogging problem. But all the money seems to have gone down the drain as the city dwellers still have to suffer terribly for rain-triggered waterlogging in every monsson.
The two city corporations have failed to rid the people of the waterlogging problem although they have invested huge money in canal digging and drainage system development.
The city dwellers experienced heavy downpour since the early morning of Friday. Manny roads have gone under rainwater in the capital much to the sufferings of the people. Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded 60mm of rainfall in the last three hours till 9am.
Although waterlogging is a serious problem facing the city people in every rainy season, this crisis is only exacerbated by the blame-game of government agencies concerned.
The waterlogging-hit areas are Fakirapool, Nayapaltan, Baitul Mukarram, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Arambagh, Pragati Sarani, New Market, Dhanmondi Rapa Plaza, Bongshal, Mirpur Rokeya Sarani, Doyaganj Crossing, Saidabad bus terminal, Nimtoli, Toynbee Circle Road, Dhanmondi 27, Elephant Road, Matsya Bhaban, Kawran Bazar, Bijoy Sarani, Dhaka Gate VIP Road and Mirpur Mazar Road. Many lanes, by-lanes and busy roads went under knee-to-waist deep water, hampering traffic and public movement in the capital. Hundreds of vehicles got stranded on most of the roads and thoroughfares in these places.
Rainwater also entered the ground floor of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), badly
hapmpering the medical activities of the hospital.
Rainwater also entered the ground floor of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), badly hapmpering the medical activities of the hospital.
The root cause of waterlogging is the lack of coordination between the two city corporations and other government agencies responsible for maintaining the drainage system.
Almost all the drainage channels lie choked with debris and as a result, water flow of these channels is being seriously hampered, leading to flooding during rain. The stagnant water drains into surrounding rivers through three channels, including a pump station, sluice gates, and canals. But most of the sluice gates under Dhaka South City Corporation are now non-functional. Besides, there is almost no water flow of the canals. These are the main reason for waterlogging in the capital, according to media reports. The authorities should immediately improve the city’s drainage system to resolve the waterlogging problem.
