Miserable condition of civic amnesties is severely hampering economic development in Khulna City. An array of problems, including waterlogging, dilapidated roads, severe traffic jams have created a nightmare for the city dwellers as well as businesses. The city needs quick refurbishment for stopping further deterioration of living conditions. Waterlogging turns into a continuous cause of sufferings for the city dwellers during the monsoon every year. Even after 10 minutes of downpour, water accumulates on different city roads, submerging houses in the low-lying areas. Initiatives taken by the authorities so far have failed to alleviate this suffering of residents of the city.
According to Khulna City Corporation (KCC) sources, Tk 823.79 crore has been allocated in the last four years for developing the 1,175.64 km drainage system of the city. But spending of this huge amount of money went in vain as the city dwellers are still suffering from severe waterlogging. Encroachers have occupied most of the 22 canals in the Khulna metropolis. To resolve the waterlogging problem several drains and a 10-kilometre city protection dam have been constructed while 12 canals have been recovered from encroachers. Construction of a 60-km drainage system, four pump houses and three sluice gates and recovery of 10 canals are going on. The condition of most of the roads in Khulna metropolis is deplorable.
Meanwhile, unplanned housing is being noticed in Khulna metropolis with small and big houses sprouting up filling lowlands in its suburban areas. The problem of waterlogging is intensifying due to this unplanned urbanisation. Besides, unplanned extraction of groundwater causes dropping of the groundwater table, resulting in a severe water crisis in summer. We want to say the city authority in collaboration with other stakeholders should address the challenges and make the city liveable.
