Govt agencies trade blames

It�ll take time to solve problems, say mayors

Dhaka city mayors, during their campaign before the city corporation elections, had promised that the city would be turned into a clean, green and world-class city, where there would be no waterlogging or traffic snarls.
The city’s fathers had also said they would fulfil their promises through proper coordination with the stakeholders of the city corporations. Yet, now they are engaged in a blame game, saying that the government agencies are not working sincerely.
Meanwhile, people have been witnessing unbearable traffic congestion and waterlogging almost everywhere in the city over the past few days. The elected mayors have failed to free the city’s footpaths from hawkers, which was also one of their election pledges.   
About the mayors’ promises, The Independent had published a news report, in which local government and urban experts had pointed out that most of the promises of the city mayors are beyond their authority to implement.
However, speaking to The Independent, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sayeed Khokon, one of whose major election promises was to remove waterlogging from the city, now said actually Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was mainly responsible for the waterlogging which cripples the city, mainly in the rainy season.
“As we are elected representatives, we have some responsibilities to the city residents, and for which we are working hard to provide necessary services to them,” he said.
Replying to a question he said, “We are trying to coordinate with our stakeholders and hope we will be able to provide smooth services to the city-dwellers, but it will take time.”
Saying that they are continuously exerting pressure on the Dhaka WASA for removing waterlogging from the city, he also told this correspondent to talk to the WASA authorities.
“Removing waterlogging from the city is the responsibility of the WASA. You should talk to them,” Khokon said.
A WASA official, who requested not to be named, told this correspondent that only 25–28 per cent of the drainage system was under the Dhaka WASA while 50–55 per cent was under the two city corporations. “You can well understand who is more responsible for the water-logging…” he said, claiming that most of the city’s drainage system was clogged due to the poor waste management of the city corporations. When contacted, WASA deputy managing director (operation and maintenance) Kamrul Alam Chowdhury said they have already started work to eradicate waterlogging from the city.

“Our mayors are always coordinating with us. We have already held talks for three times with Annisul Huq, mayor of the Dhaka North City Corporation, and discussed the problems,” he said.
Huq put the blame on land-grabbers, who have indiscriminately filled up different canals, clogging the city’s drainage system and causing waterlogging as a result.
“Waterlogging in the city is not a new problem. We are trying to solve the problem. It will take time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the traffic gridlock has become a constant source of worry for the city folks, and the monsoon has added to their woes. Even though the mayors had said the problem of traffic snarls would be addressed, no steps have been taken yet.   
In his election manifesto, Huq had promised to make Dhaka a clean, safe, and green city. He had also said that the problems of the city have been identified and it was time to solve them.
On the other hand, Sayeed Khokon had promised to make Dhaka a modern, world-class and digital city by ensuring proper coordination with other government agencies.
A total of 18 ministries and 56 government departments are entrusted with the city’s development.

Govt agencies trade blames

It�ll take time to solve problems, say mayors

Dhaka city mayors, during their campaign before the city corporation elections, had promised that the city would be turned into a clean, green and world-class city, where there would be no waterlogging or traffic snarls. The citys fathers had also said they would fulfil their promises through proper coordination with the stakeholders of the city corporations. Yet, now they are engaged in a blame game, saying that the government agencies are not working sincerely. Meanwhile, people have been witnessing unbearable traffic congestion and waterlogging almost everywhere in the city over the past few days. The elected mayors have failed to free the citys footpaths from hawkers, which was also one of their election pledges. About the mayors promises, The Independent had published a news report, in which local government and urban experts had pointed out that most of the promises of the city mayors are beyond their authority to implement. However, speaking to The Independent, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sayeed Khokon, one of whose major election promises was to remove waterlogging from the city, now said actually Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) was mainly responsible for the waterlogging which cripples the city, mainly in the rainy season. As we are elected representatives, we have some responsibilities to the city residents, and for which we are working hard to provide necessary services to them, he said. Replying to a question he said, We are trying to coordinate with our stakeholders and hope we will be able to provide smooth services to the city-dwellers, but it will take time. Saying that they are continuously exerting pressure on the Dhaka WASA for removing waterlogging from the city, he also told this correspondent to talk to the WASA authorities. Removing waterlogging from the city is the responsibility of the WASA. You should talk to them, Khokon said. A WASA official, who requested not to be named, told this correspondent that only 2528 per cent of the drainage system was under the Dhaka WASA while 5055 per cent was under the two city corporations. You can well understand who is more responsible for the water-logging he said, claiming that most of the citys drainage system was clogged due to the poor waste management of the city corporations. When contacted, WASA deputy managing director (operation and maintenance) Kamrul Alam Chowdhury said they have already started work to eradicate waterlogging from the city. Our mayors are always coordinating with us. We have already held talks for three times with Annisul Huq, mayor of the Dhaka North City Corporation, and discussed the problems, he said. Huq put the blame on land-grabbers, who have indiscriminately filled up different canals, clogging the citys drainage system and causing waterlogging as a result. Waterlogging in the city is not a new problem. We are trying to solve the problem. It will take time, he said. Meanwhile, the traffic gridlock has become a constant source of worry for the city folks, and the monsoon has added to their woes. Even though the mayors had said the problem of traffic snarls would be addressed, no steps have been taken yet. In his election manifesto, Huq had promised to make Dhaka a clean, safe, and green city. He had also said that the problems of the city have been identified and it was time to solve them. On the other hand, Sayeed Khokon had promised to make Dhaka a modern, world-class and digital city by ensuring proper coordination with other government agencies. A total of 18 ministries and 56 government departments are entrusted with the citys development.