Emerging like a space for breath of fresh air in the concrete jungle of Dhaka, Hatirjheel has been serving since its opening as a prime recreation spot for millions who feed off the capital on a daily basis. However, its present state is causing great discomfort to locals and visitors due to unabated pollution of its water that threatens to distract people because the foul odour oozing out of the lake is injurious to health. When all urban public spaces, including parks and amusement centres, remained closed during the pandemic-induced lockdown, Hatirjheel was the single recreational destination. Now the lake stands polluted for discharging anything and everything in its water.
The water of the lake has turned discoloured at places and visitors are complaining of odour pollution. Unplanned waste disposal is a common sight in the lake area. Experts have said that one of the key reasons behind the sorry state of lake water is the dumping of wastes through underwater sewerage lines. DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam recently commented on the lake as “misplanned” which needs proper correction. Most of the sewage lines that are disposing of waste in Hatirjheel are illegal.
There are several mechanical scanners in the lake area. Those scanners are removing waste from the Hatirjheel Lake. But these scanners cannot handle the water pressure if it rains above 50 millimeters across the city. Experts have urged the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), city corporation authorities, and other stakeholders to come to a swift and sustainable solution to the crisis. The water purification project was functioning at an early stage of the lake but Australian and Chinese experts who ran it left due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
We know the situation deteriorated after the supervisory responsibilities were handed over from Bangladesh Army to the RAJUK. Now RAJUK should show its capability to restore its beauty and maintain the lake properly. Apart from the fault in planning, maintenance like the sewerage lines emptying into the lake water should be diverted. People visiting the lake should be made aware not to throw litter into its water and if necessary punishment should be meted out to polluters.
