Waterlogging

According to a report published in this newspaper yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BRDB) to solve waterlogging problem in the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) areas. This indeed is a step in the right direction. Previous records show that projects involving the army have invariably been successful. Experts believe that if the existing drainage system is properly taken care of, the present water-logging or congestion could be reduced by 50 per cent instantly.

Recent downpours again exposed the vulnerability of the city's drainage system in spite of the authorities' repeated claim of its substantial improvement over the years. In fact, waterlogging remains a perennial problem for the city since the eighties of the previous century. Major parts of the city get flooded for hours even after a short spell of heavy rains.

Illegal filling up of rivers and canals surrounding the Dhaka city is the main reason of waterlogging in the city. A drive should be conducted for recovering illegally occupied rivers and canals through coordination of the Dhaka WASA and relevant bodies.

Inadequate and faulty drainage network, filling up of drainage canals and lack of proper cleaning of drains are some other reasons behind waterlogging in the capital. The drainage system was not upgraded keeping pace with the rapid urbanisation while around half of the canals in the city dried up or have been illegally filled in and occupied over the last two decades causing waterlogging in many parts during the rainy season. The retention capacity of the water bodies has also been reduced due to lack of re-excavation work. The volume needed to retain an hour's rain is yet to be developed in the city. The services of WASA can be integrated with the city corporations for better coordination of the drainage, sewerage and sanitation works.

Like many other cities of the world, Dhaka also can be developed into a city with a sound drainage system if the relevant entities including DSCC, DNCC and WASA can work in unison to solve the problem. For this, a thorough plan with details of the city’s water logging and how effectively and permanently they can be solved has to be devised. There is no alternative to recovering canals and water bodies in and around Dhaka city, if the relevant authorities want to make the city’s drainage system more efficient.

Waterlogging

According to a report published in this newspaper yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh Water Development Board (BRDB) to solve waterlogging problem in the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) areas. This indeed is a step in the right direction. Previous records show that projects involving the army have invariably been successful. Experts believe that if the existing drainage system is properly taken care of, the present water-logging or congestion could be reduced by 50 per cent instantly. Recent downpours again exposed the vulnerability of the citys drainage system in spite of the authorities repeated claim of its substantial improvement over the years. In fact, waterlogging remains a perennial problem for the city since the eighties of the previous century. Major parts of the city get flooded for hours even after a short spell of heavy rains. Illegal filling up of rivers and canals surrounding the Dhaka city is the main reason of waterlogging in the city. A drive should be conducted for recovering illegally occupied rivers and canals through coordination of the Dhaka WASA and relevant bodies. Inadequate and faulty drainage network, filling up of drainage canals and lack of proper cleaning of drains are some other reasons behind waterlogging in the capital. The drainage system was not upgraded keeping pace with the rapid urbanisation while around half of the canals in the city dried up or have been illegally filled in and occupied over the last two decades causing waterlogging in many parts during the rainy season. The retention capacity of the water bodies has also been reduced due to lack of re-excavation work. The volume needed to retain an hours rain is yet to be developed in the city. The services of WASA can be integrated with the city corporations for better coordination of the drainage, sewerage and sanitation works. Like many other cities of the world, Dhaka also can be developed into a city with a sound drainage system if the relevant entities including DSCC, DNCC and WASA can work in unison to solve the problem. For this, a thorough plan with details of the citys water logging and how effectively and permanently they can be solved has to be devised. There is no alternative to recovering canals and water bodies in and around Dhaka city, if the relevant authorities want to make the citys drainage system more efficient.