Low-lying areas in Dhaka face risk of floods

Waterlogging has brought the capital to a standstill. The problem crops up even after a mild shower, as almost two thirds of the city’sconservable floodplains and water retention zones, have been usurped by the realtors.
Dhaka is covered by two flood action plans (FAPs): Greater Dhaka Protection Project (FAP-8A); and Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project (FAP-8B). These two FAPs have ensured the protection of flood flow zones, including the flood retention pond.
The capital’s developer Rajdhani Unnayan Kortipokkho (Rajuk), however, had flouted the FAPs and had ignored repeated warnings of experts—to not allow water retention areas and flood flow zones to be used for housing estates. Rajuk recently posted the draft of its new Dhaka Structure Plan for 2016-2035, in its website and has asked for public opinion on the draft, before finalizing it.
In its draft plan, it has however incorporated nothing new from the previous plan for ensuring the protection of flood retention zone, especially for the protection of flood retention pond.
The draft plan of Rajuk has suggested strict vigilance on violation of ban on development. It further proposed for removing impediments—such as illegal land filling and developments—to facilitate regulated flooding in flood-flow zone, marked in the Structure Plan. But the plan has failed to outline measures to save the flood retention pond.
According to the two FAPs, the city should have conserved 5,523 acres of water retention area (which is only 1.57 per cent of the 1,528 sq kms of Dhaka’s master plan), 20,093 acres of canals and rivers (5.7 per cent) and 74,598 acres of flood flow zones (21 per cent). But the factual position is that nearly two thirds of those water retention areas have already been grabbed by different realtors.
Talking to The Independent, Sirajul Islam, director (plan preparation) of Rajuk said the new Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for 2016-2035 would have detailed measures of protecting the flood retention zone, in line with the two FAPs.
“The Draft Dhaka Structure Plan only has policies and overview. The detailed plans for the flood retention pond will be in the new DAP,” he said adding that in the Master Plan area, conservable floodplains, retention areas and water bodies, together constitute 405 sq kms out of 1,500 sq kms.
He further said that the policy of the flood retention ponds directly demarcate the location of retention pond, which should be the subject of detailed geological survey, to ensure that the city’s natural drainage system is not compromised and that the effects of waterlogging are minimized.
As the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) has not been completely prepared, it is difficult to demarcate the actual location of the retention ponds, Sirajul said. He added that subsequently many public, private and individual interest groups took possession of the low lands in a hurried manner. “Rapid population growth and high demand for housing makes the situation complex,” he concluded.
Explaining about the function of a retention pond, Prof Dr Sabbir Mostafa Khan, head of the department of Water Resource Engineering of BUET said, “Flood retention pond is designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely. Usually the pond is designed to have a drainage system to maintain and regulate the volume of water in the pond.”
Khan elaborated that canals, rivers and water retention areas collect, carry and retain rainwater and are connected with each other as a drainage network.
But over the decades, the city canals have either been grabbed by realtors or are turned into box culverts for road construction.

Low-lying areas in Dhaka face risk of floods

Waterlogging has brought the capital to a standstill. The problem crops up even after a mild shower, as almost two thirds of the citysconservable floodplains and water retention zones, have been usurped by the realtors. Dhaka is covered by two flood action plans (FAPs): Greater Dhaka Protection Project (FAP-8A); and Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project (FAP-8B). These two FAPs have ensured the protection of flood flow zones, including the flood retention pond. The capitals developer Rajdhani Unnayan Kortipokkho (Rajuk), however, had flouted the FAPs and had ignored repeated warnings of expertsto not allow water retention areas and flood flow zones to be used for housing estates. Rajuk recently posted the draft of its new Dhaka Structure Plan for 2016-2035, in its website and has asked for public opinion on the draft, before finalizing it. In its draft plan, it has however incorporated nothing new from the previous plan for ensuring the protection of flood retention zone, especially for the protection of flood retention pond. The draft plan of Rajuk has suggested strict vigilance on violation of ban on development. It further proposed for removing impedimentssuch as illegal land filling and developmentsto facilitate regulated flooding in flood-flow zone, marked in the Structure Plan. But the plan has failed to outline measures to save the flood retention pond. According to the two FAPs, the city should have conserved 5,523 acres of water retention area (which is only 1.57 per cent of the 1,528 sq kms of Dhakas master plan), 20,093 acres of canals and rivers (5.7 per cent) and 74,598 acres of flood flow zones (21 per cent). But the factual position is that nearly two thirds of those water retention areas have already been grabbed by different realtors. Talking to The Independent, Sirajul Islam, director (plan preparation) of Rajuk said the new Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for 2016-2035 would have detailed measures of protecting the flood retention zone, in line with the two FAPs. The Draft Dhaka Structure Plan only has policies and overview. The detailed plans for the flood retention pond will be in the new DAP, he said adding that in the Master Plan area, conservable floodplains, retention areas and water bodies, together constitute 405 sq kms out of 1,500 sq kms. He further said that the policy of the flood retention ponds directly demarcate the location of retention pond, which should be the subject of detailed geological survey, to ensure that the citys natural drainage system is not compromised and that the effects of waterlogging are minimized. As the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) has not been completely prepared, it is difficult to demarcate the actual location of the retention ponds, Sirajul said. He added that subsequently many public, private and individual interest groups took possession of the low lands in a hurried manner. Rapid population growth and high demand for housing makes the situation complex, he concluded. Explaining about the function of a retention pond, Prof Dr Sabbir Mostafa Khan, head of the department of Water Resource Engineering of BUET said, Flood retention pond is designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely. Usually the pond is designed to have a drainage system to maintain and regulate the volume of water in the pond. Khan elaborated that canals, rivers and water retention areas collect, carry and retain rainwater and are connected with each other as a drainage network. But over the decades, the city canals have either been grabbed by realtors or are turned into box culverts for road construction.