Hatirjheel project, with its wide open space is going to fast lose its charm to attract city dwellers mainly due to stinks coming out from its badly polluted lake water and also dumping of municipal waste into it.
Although the main objective of the 302-acre project was to connect the eastern and western part of the city, reduce traffic jam and also improve drainage and sewerage system, it could be as well used as a breathing space for the city dwellers.
The project with a lake with beautiful bridges over it and lovely flowers on road islands and also alongside the roads, since it was opened to public in January last year, has however, been drawing visitors. But the foul smell coming out from its water has become a discouraging factor the visitors as sewerage water is finding its way into the lake.
Some visitors of the project told this correspondent that sometimes they have to put handkerchief on their nose because of the bad smell from the lake’s polluted water. Still in absence of open space in the city they like to visit the area, they said. Sometimes they have to cut short their stay in the area, which could have been turned an attractive breathing space for the city dwellers, they observed.
Abdur Rahman , a visitor who had been on stroll with members of his family at the site said that they found it very difficult to stay there for long because of the bad smell.
One top official of (Rajuk), said stinks in Hatirjheel water is a technical problem. Water is spreading stench as sewerage water enters the drainage lines connecting Panthapath, Sonargaon and Rampura areas. Rajuk is setting up pumps near Rampura bridge to check stinks of water. “Once the pumps are in place, then there’ll be no stench from the water.”
Brigadier General Sajjad of Special Works Organisation (SWO) said, ” We have done our part.The problem of stink will be solved following the setting up of a Sewerage Treatment plant at Dasherkandi which is likely to involve an estimated cost of Tk. 1200 -1500 crore including land acquisition.”
Major General Sayed, project director of Hatirjheel who has been with it since inception told The New Nation on Sunday Dasherkandi treatment plant will be a foreign project. Some countries including China have shown interest to finance it. The problem will be totally solved with the installation of the sewerage treatment plant, he said. As an interim arrangement a parallel embankment is created along the Ramnpura bridge with a flow control having provision of opening and closing, he said.
Another source however, said that it is not possible to refresh Hatirjheel water through setting up only pumps. It requires proper treatment of water to remove the stinks, he said. Meanwhile, Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has to give due attention so that none can dump municipal waste into the lake.
Paribesh Andolon General Secretary Abdul Matin told the media that they had suggested the authorities concerned to set up an organic treatment plant to remove odour from the water.
Asked what steps they are taking to remove wastes from the Hatirjheel area, an official of Dhaka City Corporation (North) said it would clean up the area on completion of the project work. Security personnel and cleaners will be recruited to look after the project site on completion of its work by the army, he said.
Asked whether they are taking any action against reckless motorcyclists who reportedly caused death to some visitors in Hatirjheel area recently, he said they have written to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and asked the Inspector General of Police to take preventive measures.
On January 2, 2013 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Hatirjheel-Begunbari integrated development project to public. The 302-acre site stretches between Airport Road and Rampura along Tejgaon, Gulshan, Modhubagh, Moghbazar, Badda and Ulan areas.
