The water- logging related distresses for the residents of the city have reached an intolerable state. It is imperative to start addressing the problem with the seriousness it deserves, immediately and effectively

Imperative to address city�s water-logging problem immediately

The commuters in Dhaka had a nightmarish experience on Tuesday as they were caught in an unprecedented traffic jam caused by water-logging due to heavy rain for more than one hour in some parts of the city. Had there been a proper drainage system in the city, one hour’s rain would not have caused such sufferings. However, the problem of water-logging is nothing new in Dhaka. Nor has it surfaced during the past few years. In fact, it is a problem that has emerged over decades. Now the magnitude of the problem has come to such a pass that it needs immediate address.
There was a time when Dhaka could depend on natural drainage of rainwater. There were many canals and ponds in the city like arteries in the human body. These not only held rainwater and helped drainage, the canals and water bodies were also sources of naturally bred tasty fishes. With the passage of time most of the natural drainage canals have been filled up and grabbed by all kinds of chance seeking people.
With the increase in its population Dhaka has also expanded phenomenally. Successive governments have failed to recover the grabbed canals. Some canals have choked up to the point of extinction due to dumping of household garbage and industrial wastes. Still now there are some canals that survived the onslaught of the encroachers. But those are not being made operational.
The water-logging problem in the city cannot be thought of without recovering the grabbed canals. On the other hand, the man-made drainage system in the city also remains dysfunctional in varying degrees. Some box culverts were constructed but unfortunately we are not getting optimum benefits from the same due to absence of regular maintenance . In many places solid wastes carelessly thrown into them are blocking them leading to situations like last Tuesday. But of course the same could be avoided had there been systematic and unflagging efforts all the time to keep them unblocked.
An integrated policy should be taken up for freeing the inhabitants of Dhaka city from the scourge of water-logging. The grabbed canals in the city should be recovered immediately and re-excavated for restoring their previous free-flow. The establishments that have sprung up on those should be demolished showing no fear or favour. In sum, we want to say that water-logging related distresses for the residents of the city have reached an intolerable state. It is imperative to start addressing the problem with the seriousness it deserves, immediately and effectively.   

 

The water- logging related distresses for the residents of the city have reached an intolerable state. It is imperative to start addressing the problem with the seriousness it deserves, immediately and effectively

Imperative to address city�s water-logging problem immediately

The commuters in Dhaka had a nightmarish experience on Tuesday as they were caught in an unprecedented traffic jam caused by water-logging due to heavy rain for more than one hour in some parts of the city. Had there been a proper drainage system in the city, one hours rain would not have caused such sufferings. However, the problem of water-logging is nothing new in Dhaka. Nor has it surfaced during the past few years. In fact, it is a problem that has emerged over decades. Now the magnitude of the problem has come to such a pass that it needs immediate address. There was a time when Dhaka could depend on natural drainage of rainwater. There were many canals and ponds in the city like arteries in the human body. These not only held rainwater and helped drainage, the canals and water bodies were also sources of naturally bred tasty fishes. With the passage of time most of the natural drainage canals have been filled up and grabbed by all kinds of chance seeking people. With the increase in its population Dhaka has also expanded phenomenally. Successive governments have failed to recover the grabbed canals. Some canals have choked up to the point of extinction due to dumping of household garbage and industrial wastes. Still now there are some canals that survived the onslaught of the encroachers. But those are not being made operational. The water-logging problem in the city cannot be thought of without recovering the grabbed canals. On the other hand, the man-made drainage system in the city also remains dysfunctional in varying degrees. Some box culverts were constructed but unfortunately we are not getting optimum benefits from the same due to absence of regular maintenance . In many places solid wastes carelessly thrown into them are blocking them leading to situations like last Tuesday. But of course the same could be avoided had there been systematic and unflagging efforts all the time to keep them unblocked. An integrated policy should be taken up for freeing the inhabitants of Dhaka city from the scourge of water-logging. The grabbed canals in the city should be recovered immediately and re-excavated for restoring their previous free-flow. The establishments that have sprung up on those should be demolished showing no fear or favour. In sum, we want to say that water-logging related distresses for the residents of the city have reached an intolerable state. It is imperative to start addressing the problem with the seriousness it deserves, immediately and effectively.