Dhaka deluge

Commuters are forced to wait long in the queue for public transports, while many rickshaw pullers and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers are charging exorbitant fare

The continuous downpour over the last few days has pushed much of the capital to ankle to waist-deep water, causing immense sufferings to the city dwellers. The manholes or potholes added to the sufferings as vehicles and pedestrians stumbled on them or fell over. People living in shanties are the worst sufferers. Office-goers endured stagnant water in the busy morning as heavy downpour flooded many thoroughfares including Kakrail, Bijoy Sarani, Mouchak, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Dhanmondi-27, Asad Gate, Mohammadpur and in many other parts of the capital. Inadequate drainage system and its poor management, filling up of canals and conversion of canals into box culverts are the main reasons for water-logging. Commuters are forced to wait long in the queue for public transports, while many rickshaw pullers and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers are charging double or triple fare from the passengers adding much to their sufferings.

The once 60-feet Genda canal that used to carry the waters of Kalyanpur, Shantinagar and Malibagh has now been turned into a 12-feet culvert and that, too, is largely blocked by waste. Dhaka city now had 26 canals, down from 65 in the 1970s. Most of the existing canals were either filled up or turned into box culverts over the years, leading to the water-logging. The authorities concerned must take the blame. Dhaka city now had   about 300km of storm water drainage lines, only half the city of around 18 million people requires.

We have to say that the concerned authorities have been complacent over the years about the seriousness of the situation. They have let petty greed take over and let realtors and land grabbers have their day and we stood by to let the ponds and culverts be filled up. Successive governments have come and gone and done little to take on these powerful interest groups, many of whom were deemed to be too close to the ruling house.

We were told that the division of the city into two city corporations was necessary to better handle the mega-city Dhaka had become. We have two city corporations who have little sway over the multiple agencies that govern our sewerage and drainage system.

While the successive governments have failed to put in place an integrated drainage system for both the cities, no efforts were made to protect the all-important canals and other water bodies. The negligence is exacting too heavy a cost now. The cost is likely to be even heavier in the coming days unless the government takes urgent measures to repair the damage now.

Dhaka deluge

Commuters are forced to wait long in the queue for public transports, while many rickshaw pullers and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers are charging exorbitant fare

The continuous downpour over the last few days has pushed much of the capital to ankle to waist-deep water, causing immense sufferings to the city dwellers. The manholes or potholes added to the sufferings as vehicles and pedestrians stumbled on them or fell over. People living in shanties are the worst sufferers. Office-goers endured stagnant water in the busy morning as heavy downpour flooded many thoroughfares including Kakrail, Bijoy Sarani, Mouchak, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Dhanmondi-27, Asad Gate, Mohammadpur and in many other parts of the capital. Inadequate drainage system and its poor management, filling up of canals and conversion of canals into box culverts are the main reasons for water-logging. Commuters are forced to wait long in the queue for public transports, while many rickshaw pullers and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers are charging double or triple fare from the passengers adding much to their sufferings. The once 60-feet Genda canal that used to carry the waters of Kalyanpur, Shantinagar and Malibagh has now been turned into a 12-feet culvert and that, too, is largely blocked by waste. Dhaka city now had 26 canals, down from 65 in the 1970s. Most of the existing canals were either filled up or turned into box culverts over the years, leading to the water-logging. The authorities concerned must take the blame. Dhaka city now had about 300km of storm water drainage lines, only half the city of around 18 million people requires. We have to say that the concerned authorities have been complacent over the years about the seriousness of the situation. They have let petty greed take over and let realtors and land grabbers have their day and we stood by to let the ponds and culverts be filled up. Successive governments have come and gone and done little to take on these powerful interest groups, many of whom were deemed to be too close to the ruling house. We were told that the division of the city into two city corporations was necessary to better handle the mega-city Dhaka had become. We have two city corporations who have little sway over the multiple agencies that govern our sewerage and drainage system. While the successive governments have failed to put in place an integrated drainage system for both the cities, no efforts were made to protect the all-important canals and other water bodies. The negligence is exacting too heavy a cost now. The cost is likely to be even heavier in the coming days unless the government takes urgent measures to repair the damage now.