Recurring waterlogging disrupts city life regularly
Shahariar Islam Sovon :
Many areas of Dhaka city experience widespread and recurring waterloggings when it rains heavily due to inadequate drainage infrastructure, waste disposal, and clogged drains, causing inconvenience to both residents and officegoers.
Waterlogging is a frequent issue in Dhaka, particularly during the monsoon season when heavy rainfall can overwhelm the city’s drainage systems and lead to flooding of streets, neighbourhoods, and transportation routes.
The city dwellers of Mirpur, Sheorapara, Kazipara, Mirpur-1, and Mirpur 10 suffer the most due to waterlogging problems.
A resident of Malibagh named Aminul told The New Nation that people who are homebound from their work places suffer more.
He said, “Every year the road is dug up and big pines are planted.
But when it rains a little heavy, waterlogging occurs”.
The situation is the same on the Vijayanagar-Arambagh road in the capital when it rainsthe road goes under knee-deep water causing untold sufferings to the commuters and pedestrians.
Saiful, a resident of Arambagh, told The New Nation that the drainage line was renovated and big pipes were installed on this road, but it didn’t work.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam told The New Nation that “water has logged in several areas of the city due to ongoing heavy rainfall.
To alleviate the people’s sufferings by quickly clearing the waterlogging, I have ordered the workers to remain in the field round the clock.”
Mayor Atiq said “city dwellers are requested not to throw polythene and other items into drains.
Throwing those items in the drain blocks the flow of water”.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas claimed that “infrastructure construction and development in 136 places at a cost of Tk 225 crore have been completed in the last three years after he took office. As a result, Dhaka city will no longer be submerged in light rains”.
According to the information provided by Dhaka South City Corporation, initiatives have been taken to create an aesthetic environment by removing waste and silt from four canals in Shyampur, Manda, Jirani, and Kalungar under the jurisdiction of DSCC.
The work on designing, drawing, and surveying of these four canals, implemented at a cost of Tk. 898 crore, is ongoing.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has so far spent about Tk 200 crore to root out the waterlogging issues.
This budget has been spent on various projects related to canal renovation, drainage, and water drainage system development.
But it has not yet completely freed the city dwellers from the sufferings of waterlogging.
According to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) sources, it is carrying out activities to clear the illegal structures built by occupying the canal to resolve the waterlogging.
A Quick Response Team (QRT) has been formed to deal with waterlogging issues caused by excessive rains in Dhaka.
