We have a huge underground pipeline network in the city for efficient running of storm sewerage, but water logging has not disappeared. Media reports on Wednesday said many areas in Dhaka city went under water from heavy rain on the previous day. Just three hours of rainfall was enough to shatter the tall claims of monsoon preparedness of the two city corporations. Early office goers and pedestrians were caught unaware and had to wade through knee deep water to reach their destinations. It is sad that two rickshaw pullers were electrocuted at city’s Uttara area when they attempted to remove submerged cables. Rampura, Badda and Mirpur areas were worst-hit.
The city dwellers had expected that water-logging will disappear after installation of over hundred kilometers of wide diameter storm sewerage pipeline in major parts of the city. Big pipelines which were laid underground cutting city streets causing inconveniences to city dwellers almost round the year seem to have failed to properly function. These works were carried out at huge spending of public money but serious water logging is still taking place after slight to moderate rainfall. Contractors, bureaucrats and government leaders minted unlimited fortune but the problem has remained so far largely unresolved.
One can easily understand what is at fault. The underground pipelines need to be regularly cleared of debris and rubbishes, particularly in the rainy season. They are blocked at many paces hindering free passage of drainage. So WASA authorities must devise plans how to monitor the blocks in the underground pipelines for smooth discharge of sewerage downward to rivers or canals. But they are not apparently working with plans to clear underground blockages well in time.
We all know that free passage of drainage towards Begunbari and down to Balu River on east side of the capital is not properly functioning. It must function to prevent water- logging. In developed cities sewerage blockage are regularly monitored and cleaners remove the debris that collect overtime. We must have this practice as well to make our sewerage network work. We should also keep city streets clean so that polythene and such other unperishable waste can’t enter the underground pipelines. These wastes create blockages in the sewerage system.
