CANALS in Dhaka are now choked with a thick layer of non-degradable materials like polyethene and household wastes because of indiscriminate dumping of wastes forcing many to mistake the canals for a landfill. Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) is responsible to look after the canals that are the only ways to drain rainwaters from Dhaka city. But the government entity did not dredge and clean at least 10 of the 26 canals in the last fiscal. As a result, several parts of the capital city are witnessing perennial waterlogging this year.
The rainwater of Dhaka city is supposed to be discharged through 385km-long drains, 10km box culverts and 80km-long 26 canals. If all the canals were cleaned, at least it would be known how much they can reduce the level of waterlogging. The city once had around 58 canals which are now almost dead due to encroachment or dumping of waste. The city has lost 36 per cent of its water bodies to earth filling, considering the DAP adopted for the capital in 2010. The parts of the city under the jurisdiction of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkah (Rajuk) had 100,937 acres of water bodies and lowlands 10 years ago, but 22 per cent of those – 22,156 acres – have been filled up since then, greatly contributing to the perennial water-logging issue.
Mindless earth filling and grabbing of water bodies depict that irregularities have taken an organizational shape in the country. DWASA and Rajuk, largely blamed for the sorry state of the water bodies, must be made accountable for the losses incurred, and its activities have to be transparent. A stricter law and tougher watchdog can stop such criminal offenses. If we can’t go for technology-based monitoring, we will lag and will help the culprits to take advantage. Land grabbers have to be tried and punished instantly on the spot, regardless of their political identity.
