Sagar Biswas :
Water-logging situation turned worse following heavy downpour in the last four days. People have been put into the jaws of death due to development of ditches along the streets in different city parts.
In fact, it is impossible for anyone to imagine the depth of the ditches as these remain filled-up with stagnant rainy water. As a result, the vehicles got trapped and people face awkward situation being fallen in the dirty water.
Usually, the lower part of the city goes under knee-deep water even in light rain and the situation becomes miserable when the rain continues for few more days.
Recently, the residents of Nazim Uddin Road, Gulistan, Dholaipar, Dania, South Jatrabarai, Vanga Press, Kuril Chowrasta, Hazibari Road, Mouchak, Malibagh, Shanti Nagar, Rajarbagh and some other areas bore the brunt of water-logging and were forced to shortened their regular household activities.
Especially, the condition of dwellers in the city’s Malibagh, Mouchak and Shanti Nagar got worse due to some big ditches which have been developed due to prolonged construction work of Malibagh-Mouchak flyover.
In fact, the water-logging has still remained as permanent problem while no department takes the responsibility to eliminate it. On the other hand, they like to trade blame game.
Against this backdrop, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan has termed the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority [DWASA] as a failed organization. He also claimed that city people have been suffering from water-logging due to unplanned activities of DWASA.
“Water-logging is a common phenomenon in Dhaka even after a little rain. The cannels are going in the grips of land grabbers. Whereas, we [City Corporation] are shouldering the blame!” the DSCC Mayor said on Tuesday.
He said: “It is total responsibility of DWASA to resolve the water-logging which has created in different city parts following incessant rain in the last four days….I’m compelled to say that DWASA has become a failed organization nowadays.”
Interestingly, the urban planners and water engineers underlined the importance of an effective coordinated management system to bring to an end of water-logging. They also laid emphasis on planning, coordination, clear decision of responsibility and accountability of the implementing agencies to get rid of the problem.
Putting blame on DWASA’s shoulder, the DSCC Mayor further alleged that it remains busy with billion-taka projects while the city goes under water in the rainy seasons. “Does so much money really needed to resolve the city’s water-logging? Not money, rather we think, it needs a little attention of DWASA officials to get a solution of water-logging. Before completion of big projects, it is necessary to give solution to small problems,” he said.
“They [DWASA] get fat amount of money for big projects. But if we ask to do a little favour, they do not give any importance to it….This situation cannot continue for a long time. Either, the DWASA would be merged with DSCC, or there must be a change in the leadership of DWASA,” Sayeed Khokan said.
About severe water-logging at Malibagh area, the DSCC Mayor expressed hope that there would be no suffering after completion of Mouchak-Malibagh flyover in June or July.
Managing Director of DWASA Taskeen Ahmed, however, refrained from making any comment despite repeated calls through his cellular phone last night.
Refuting the DSCC Mayor’s claim, an official of WASA, requesting not to be named, said at present, a rainfall above 40mm in Dhaka would take at least three hours to recede, as the available system is capable of draining water of only 20mm of rainfall without causing public sufferings. The city corporation authorities have to ensure that before monsoon their roadside drains are clear, he said, adding that filling up of floodplains, wetlands and most of the 65 canals in Dhaka is the main reason for water-logging.
Official sources said the DWASA maintains 320km of large-diameter concrete storm-water drains, 10kms of box culverts on canals and 65km of canals for the city’s storm-water drainage management which covers only a third of its area.
Experts believe that unplanned urbanization is a major cause of water-logging when natural drainage system, which comprises of several retention and detention areas including canals and floodplains, has been grabbed or filled-up.
Water-logging situation turned worse following heavy downpour in the last four days. People have been put into the jaws of death due to development of ditches along the streets in different city parts.
In fact, it is impossible for anyone to imagine the depth of the ditches as these remain filled-up with stagnant rainy water. As a result, the vehicles got trapped and people face awkward situation being fallen in the dirty water.
Usually, the lower part of the city goes under knee-deep water even in light rain and the situation becomes miserable when the rain continues for few more days.
Recently, the residents of Nazim Uddin Road, Gulistan, Dholaipar, Dania, South Jatrabarai, Vanga Press, Kuril Chowrasta, Hazibari Road, Mouchak, Malibagh, Shanti Nagar, Rajarbagh and some other areas bore the brunt of water-logging and were forced to shortened their regular household activities.
Especially, the condition of dwellers in the city’s Malibagh, Mouchak and Shanti Nagar got worse due to some big ditches which have been developed due to prolonged construction work of Malibagh-Mouchak flyover.
In fact, the water-logging has still remained as permanent problem while no department takes the responsibility to eliminate it. On the other hand, they like to trade blame game.
Against this backdrop, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokan has termed the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority [DWASA] as a failed organization. He also claimed that city people have been suffering from water-logging due to unplanned activities of DWASA.
“Water-logging is a common phenomenon in Dhaka even after a little rain. The cannels are going in the grips of land grabbers. Whereas, we [City Corporation] are shouldering the blame!” the DSCC Mayor said on Tuesday.
He said: “It is total responsibility of DWASA to resolve the water-logging which has created in different city parts following incessant rain in the last four days….I’m compelled to say that DWASA has become a failed organization nowadays.”
Interestingly, the urban planners and water engineers underlined the importance of an effective coordinated management system to bring to an end of water-logging. They also laid emphasis on planning, coordination, clear decision of responsibility and accountability of the implementing agencies to get rid of the problem.
Putting blame on DWASA’s shoulder, the DSCC Mayor further alleged that it remains busy with billion-taka projects while the city goes under water in the rainy seasons. “Does so much money really needed to resolve the city’s water-logging? Not money, rather we think, it needs a little attention of DWASA officials to get a solution of water-logging. Before completion of big projects, it is necessary to give solution to small problems,” he said.
“They [DWASA] get fat amount of money for big projects. But if we ask to do a little favour, they do not give any importance to it….This situation cannot continue for a long time. Either, the DWASA would be merged with DSCC, or there must be a change in the leadership of DWASA,” Sayeed Khokan said.
About severe water-logging at Malibagh area, the DSCC Mayor expressed hope that there would be no suffering after completion of Mouchak-Malibagh flyover in June or July.
Managing Director of DWASA Taskeen Ahmed, however, refrained from making any comment despite repeated calls through his cellular phone last night.
Refuting the DSCC Mayor’s claim, an official of WASA, requesting not to be named, said at present, a rainfall above 40mm in Dhaka would take at least three hours to recede, as the available system is capable of draining water of only 20mm of rainfall without causing public sufferings. The city corporation authorities have to ensure that before monsoon their roadside drains are clear, he said, adding that filling up of floodplains, wetlands and most of the 65 canals in Dhaka is the main reason for water-logging.
Official sources said the DWASA maintains 320km of large-diameter concrete storm-water drains, 10kms of box culverts on canals and 65km of canals for the city’s storm-water drainage management which covers only a third of its area.
Experts believe that unplanned urbanization is a major cause of water-logging when natural drainage system, which comprises of several retention and detention areas including canals and floodplains, has been grabbed or filled-up.
