Neglect of drainage system worsening waterlogging in Dhaka
News Desk :
The residents of the capital continue to endure significant hardships due to waterlogging, and the crisis is only exacerbated by the blame-game of allegations and counter-allegations prevailing among different agencies of the government.
This recurring issue plagues the capital whenever sustained rainfall occurs, leaving the residents to contend with the consequences.
The root cause lies in the inadequate coordination between the two city corporations and other government agecies responsible for maintaining the drainage system in Dhaka, reports UNB.
There is a palpable lack of attention towards maintaining the cleanliness of Dhaka’s canals and sewers, i.e. prevent them from becoming clogged.
The drainage channels choked with debris, impeding the swift flow of water, leading to severe flooding during rainfall, such as the deluge witnessed on September 21, when four people tragically lost their lives as they were electrocuted by a live electric cable that tore off and fell on the water.
From October 5-6, the capital experienced sporadic heavy, moderate, and drizzling rain for two consecutive days, accumulating 90 mm of rainfall. The resulting waterlogging affected various areas of Dhaka and amplified the long-standing predicament faced by the city dwellers.
The stagnant water in the capital typically drains into surrounding rivers through three channels, including a pump station, sluice gates, and canals. However, most of the sluice gates under Dhaka South City are nonfunctional, and the canals are ill-suited for efficient water flow, perpetuating the annual flooding woe for the city’s populace.
Adjacent to Kamalapur Stadium, Dhaka South City Corporation’s pump station theoretically has the capacity to drain 8,55,000 litres of water per minute. Regrettably, the station becomes inoperable after heavy rainfall due to non-functional drains and box culverts. This malfunction underscores the pressing need for systematic improvements in the city’s drainage infrastructure.
The devastating flooding witnessed on September 21 impacted several key areas, including Old Dhaka, Motijheel, Badda, Malibagh, Rampura, Shantinagar, Mouchak, Bailey Road, Kakrail, Gulistan, Shahbagh, Banglamotor, Dhanmondi, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Mirpur, Tejgaon, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Bhatara, Bashundhara, and Khilkhet. Some of these areas remained waterlogged even a day later.
It seems the buck stops nowhere as various entities deflect responsibility as the city faces another bout of severe waterlogging.
Professor Adil Muhammad Khan from Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning said that Dhaka South City Corporation has allocated approximately Tk 225 crore for waterlogging alleviation projects.
“Despite these investments in canal renovation, drainage, and water drainage system development, the city remains ensnared in the grip of waterlogging, primarily due to the drainage system’s inherent limitations,” he said He underscored the critical need for coordinated efforts between the government organisation and urged for continuous accountability.
“Organisations engage in constant buck-passing as waterlogging persists.
The accountability of each task should be ensured by adopting a coordinated plan in coordination with various organisations.
Just spending money is not enough, accountability is necessary.
Proper plans should be made to deal with waterlogging,” he added.
