Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has detected five reasons, which have been causing waterlogging in the Dhaka city.
BWDB Chief Engineer Abul Kalam Azad and Divisional Engineer Kartik Chandra Paul disclosed the findings at a roundtable discussion on “Water Logging makes Dhaka city unlivable” held in the Ittefaq Bhaban. The New Nation and the Manik Mia Foundation organized the roundable.
They said, around 10 canals of the city have been either filled up or turned into box culverts to construct roads and thereby aggravated the waterlogging problems.
Most of the rivers and canals of Dhaka city are under illegal occupation where thousands of high rise have been constructed. Though developers are generally careful about foundation and design, there are thousands of multi-storied buildings, which have been constructed on illegally occupied land and canal.
The Fore Shore lines of the rivers around Dhaka city have been made almost inactive. The faulty construction of sewerage lines in some cases has caused waterlogging.
Abul Kalam Azad and Kartik Chandra Paul also placed 10 points recommendations, including restoration of the rivers and canals into their original state, formation of a high level committee and united efforts and consensus of all political parties, non-government organizations and right groups.
The removal of the waterlogging needs coordination among experts and professionals from Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
Master Plan: Master plan of Dhaka City Drainage should be prepared by an experienced consulting engineering firm. A national committee consisting of experts from relevant organisations may guide and oversee the activities of the firm. The whole city may be divided into drainage zones according to topography and location.
Eastern Bypass: An embankment by the east of the city (Eastern Bypass) may be constructed as quickly as possible. If the Eastern Bypass is delayed for the Master Plan, the city will continue to suffer. Western embankment was not delayed for the Master Plan.
There are 25 canals in the Dhaka, including Kalyanpur main canal, Kalyanpur Ka, Kha, Gha, Unga and Cha canals, Katasur, Ramchandpur, Abdullahpur, Diyabari, Digun, Gulshan-Banani, Mohakhali, Hazaribagh, Begunbari, Khilgaon-Bashabo, Manda, Sutivola, Badda-Shahjadpur, Rupnagar, Baisteki, Kalshi, Bouniya, Ibrahimpur canals, Housing canal in Mirpur-14 and Jirani canal.
Some other canals are Char Kamrangir Khal, Begunbari-Meradiya-Gajariya, Dakkhingaon-Nandipara, Rajarbagh-Nandipara, Nasirabad-Nandipara, Nandipara-Trimohoni and Boufar (Boualiya) canals.
