How can 85pc house owners dare to make capital unlivable by linking sewage lines to surface drains?

Most house owners in Dhaka have connected their sewage discharge pipes to the surface drains of the City Corporation instead of sewage management networks, resulting in severe pollution to the lakes in and around the capital. Dhaka North City Corporation has already initiated a drive against such house owners and warned them to set up sewage treatment plants. We, the citizens, blame the city authorities for now working properly to make the city liveable, but we are also responsible for not constructing buildings properly and seeking an excuse to breach rules.
To make the campaign successful, Mayor Atiqul put emphasis on creating awareness among the house owners. Besides, ward councillors and city corporation officials will perform their respective duties to resolve the problem. DNCC asked the house owners not to connect their sewage lines to the surface drains but they did not pay any importance. After issuing public notification the corporation started to drive. Illegal sewage connections in elite areas are a matter of great regret. The wastes of these houses are supposed to flow through separate WASA lines. Where there are no water lines, ETP plants should be installed by the house owners to manage the wastes. DNCC earlier conducted a ground survey in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan areas of the city and the findings were appalling. According to the survey, about 85 per cent of the houses have sewage lines in surface drains.
At least, 3,830 houses were surveyed in these four areas. Of these houses, 3,265 houses discharged sewage directly into surface drains and lakes. Only 41 houses have proper sewerage connection and 524 houses have partial sewage management. As a result, the natural beauty of the lake is being destroyed and mosquito infestation is increasing. Out of 550 houses in Baridhara, which is known as the most elite area of the country, 342 houses have connected their sewage lines to surface drains. The survey report found, only 5 houses in Baridhara have not been connected to surface drains out of eight level criteria laid down while 203 houses met few of the conditions. On the other hand, 342 houses did not fulfil a single condition, whose house sewage line is connected to the surface drain.
Making the city liveable is everyone’s duty; shouldering one’s responsibilities on others will not bring the solution. The government, city government and businesses all have tasks to perform.