Waterlogging of the capital city has been going on for a long time. When the rainy season comes, the city dwellers face various kinds of problems. Many areas including the roads and streets of Dhaka get submerged in the slightest rain.
After several hours of continuous rain, water rose up to two-three feet in many areas. But it takes four to five hours and in some cases one to two days for this water to go down. As a result, people and vehicles have to suffer a lot of problems on the roads.
Most of the time, the authorities act after the onset of flooding, but if preparations are made before the onset of the monsoon season, the capital city will be de-flooded.
Dhaka residents have to suffer a lot due to flooding.
The sad thing is that many people die of electrocution during the rains in many areas when the electric wires on the side of the road snap. On September 21, 2023, a total of 5 people, including 4 of the same family, including a child, were electrocuted by a roadside electric wire in the Dhaka Commerce College area of Mirpur during the night of rain. So this year we have to prepare in advance.
Those concerned say 385 km of the capital’s total drainage lines were under Dhaka WASA and about 2,500 km were under Dhaka City Corporation. Apart from this, Dhaka WASA was also responsible for the maintenance of 26 canals with a length of 74 km and 10 km of box-culverts. That’s why the organizations were putting the responsibility on each other to resolve the flooding caused by the monsoon.
The existence of all the rivers around Dhaka is in crisis. Earlier, when it rained, the water would go through canals to rivers, but now all these canals or rivers are almost full. Due to which water in the city does not have a place to go down, resulting in waterlogging. But authorities have to clear all the city’s drains before flooding occurs.
Adequate drainage should be constructed to alleviate waterlogging in Dhaka city. We have to make sure that the rain water can flow easily into the river. City canals, drains, box culverts and brick sewer lines should be kept clean and passable. All the canals and rivers around Dhaka must be preserved.
Although severe heat wave is currently going on in the country, after a few days severe waterlogging will be seen in Dhaka. Therefore, the common people as well as the government should take effective steps in this regard before the monsoon to resolve this waterlogging.
If only the government or the city corporation will work to control the flooding, the consequences will be very dire. So the government and the city dwellers have to be careful. Then it will be possible to solve the waterlogging of Dhaka city.
Sakibul Hasan
Dhaka College, Dhaka
