Overcoming problem of water-logging in the city
Shahiduzzaman Khan | Sunday, 27 July 2008
WATER-logging in the capital may take a severe turn very soon as the authorities are yet to improve the drainage and storm-sewerage systems. Heavy downpour that lasts a few hours on a single day creates water-logging causing immense suffering to the city dwellers in many areas especially the commercial areas of Motijheel and Dilkusha.
A number of roads and streets in and around Motijheel and Dilkusha area go under knee-deep water disrupting businesses in these two major commercial hubs. Water-logging due to poor drainage system also create congestion in the city as many vehicles particularly CNG-run three wheelers are left stranded on the roads creating road blocks. During the full monsoon season, the situation of water-logging could aggravate, as many pumps for clearing out logged water from the city are out of order.
Around 30 per cent of the roads and streets having a total length of about 2290 kilometres (km) and 40 per cent of 2460 km open drains in the capital requires immediate repair and improvement immediately. The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) could not implement over 50 per cent of its annual development programmes during the last fiscal year as almost half of its 90 ward commissioners went into hiding.
It is almost a normal scenario that severe water-logging hits old parts of the city with all its ferocities every year. It sometimes lasts for one month causing immense sufferings to the people and affecting a large number of factories in the area. Leakage of sluice gates at the flood protection embankment along the Buriganga river and poor drainage system are blamed for the water-logging in the area. Several thousand people are usually marooned and over 25,000 factories are affected directly or indirectly due to the water-logging. Most lanes and by-lanes of the old city remain inundated by knee to waist-deep water for at least a month. A good number of factories, which are located on the ground floors of different houses, remain closed. The water-logging problem in the area has worsened during the last several years due to the flooding. Structures built by filling up with dirt near the embankment block the drainage system causing the water logging in the area.
Such water-logging problems in the area could have been averted if the leakage of sluice gates is repaired well in time. The water-logging in the area usually takes place for keeping closed all the sluice gates of the flood protection embankment. Leakage of sluice gates at different points of the embankment is caused by severe pressure of the surging flood waters.
There is no denying that the primary cause of water-logging in the city is the inadequate and outdated drainage system. A proper drainage system does not mean a few sewerage lines and drains only, it means building up a network that connects drains and sewerage lines with the natural water-bodies such as ponds, lakes and canals. Unfortunately Dhaka, which had hundreds of ponds, natural canals and lakes has been deprived of them by the city's unplanned growth and wholesale urbanisation in the last two decades. Low-lying areas in Savar, Ashulia and in the eastern fringe of the city are continuously being filled up in the name of development, which has resulted in water-logging.
Most of the 43 canals in the city have been grabbed by influential quarters who have filled them with earth, partially or totally, over the years due to the lack of initiative by the authorities to save the canals, which is the main reason for water-logging. The box culverts, constructed at different places, also remain clogged for lack of cleaning. WASA officials said they do not have modern equipment to clean the box culverts properly. The storm sewerage lines and surface drains of both WASA and DCC are also not functioning properly due to lack of proper maintenance. Water-logging due to poor drainage leaves most of the low-lying areas in the capital under ankle-deep water for at least a week following heavy rains. People who live in those areas have to make their way through this stinky, stagnant water every day running the risk of various infections.
It appears that the water-logged people are stranded for about six months in a year and can get relief only in the dry season. Such a situation goes on for the past several years. The worst sufferers are the school going children who wade through the dirty water every day. Reluctant parents are forced to let their children make their way through the stagnant water to school each day. Rickshawpullers stay away from the area due to the water, so there is no alternative to walking to school. Uncovered manholes of the area are also adding to the misery of the people. The water-logging in the area arises, as there is no outlet to pass the rainwater. Some residents say that construction of new buildings has filled up the storm sewerage drains and that is the main reason behind water logging in the area.
About 2.0 million people of the city's DND area have been seriously affected by severe water-logging. The area looks set to suffer from water-logging for some time more. Indiscriminate fish farming and encroachment of canals are contributing to the continual water-logging here. The residents have to live with the risk as the authorities concerned fail to take long-term measures to improve the situation. Another factor contributing to the problem is the encroachment of canals that are being filled up to set up gas and petrol filling stations. Over the years several hundred fishing farms have mushroomed in this place. The fishing farms block openings for flow of water into the canals to maintain their ponds, leading to water-logging.
The government recently removed the barricades put up by local fish farmers in north Matuail but not south Matuail. But most of the residents blame the authorities for not taking any effective steps to improve drainage system in the area. The 31.162 km of canals in the DND area, which have been excavated and cleaned, are now being filled up again due to garbage dumping. In places, encroachment has led to narrowing of canals. The canal, adjoining Dhaka-Chittagong highway, is being illegally occupied to set up CNG filling and petrol pump stations. Canal excavation brought some benefit to the local residents. However to get real results, the government has to complete the total plan including setting up of two more pump houses and improvement of the drainage system.
In order to improve the drainage system and remove water-logging in the area, a Tk 2.35 billion project proposal was prepared in 2005 under a long-term planning. The proposal based on field level reports and studies conducted by JICA in 1992, did not get government approval. Later, following a decision of the project evaluation committee in September, 2006, a Tk 110 million project was taken up as a part of emergency programmes. This included a feasibility study and canal excavation. The feasibility study, begun in February this year, will be completed early next year. Based on that, a long-term project proposal is expected to be formulated.
A number of surface drains in many areas of the capital have no covers and have been filled up with dust and garbage. Those are in need of immediate cleaning to restore drainage of waste and rain water.
The threat of severe water-logging like that experienced in 2004 still looms large. The city life remained paralysed for three days at a stretch at that time. Keeping that horrible experiences in mind, the authorities should expedite construction of necessary drains and storm sewerage to improve drainage conditions.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com
A number of roads and streets in and around Motijheel and Dilkusha area go under knee-deep water disrupting businesses in these two major commercial hubs. Water-logging due to poor drainage system also create congestion in the city as many vehicles particularly CNG-run three wheelers are left stranded on the roads creating road blocks. During the full monsoon season, the situation of water-logging could aggravate, as many pumps for clearing out logged water from the city are out of order.
Around 30 per cent of the roads and streets having a total length of about 2290 kilometres (km) and 40 per cent of 2460 km open drains in the capital requires immediate repair and improvement immediately. The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) could not implement over 50 per cent of its annual development programmes during the last fiscal year as almost half of its 90 ward commissioners went into hiding.
It is almost a normal scenario that severe water-logging hits old parts of the city with all its ferocities every year. It sometimes lasts for one month causing immense sufferings to the people and affecting a large number of factories in the area. Leakage of sluice gates at the flood protection embankment along the Buriganga river and poor drainage system are blamed for the water-logging in the area. Several thousand people are usually marooned and over 25,000 factories are affected directly or indirectly due to the water-logging. Most lanes and by-lanes of the old city remain inundated by knee to waist-deep water for at least a month. A good number of factories, which are located on the ground floors of different houses, remain closed. The water-logging problem in the area has worsened during the last several years due to the flooding. Structures built by filling up with dirt near the embankment block the drainage system causing the water logging in the area.
Such water-logging problems in the area could have been averted if the leakage of sluice gates is repaired well in time. The water-logging in the area usually takes place for keeping closed all the sluice gates of the flood protection embankment. Leakage of sluice gates at different points of the embankment is caused by severe pressure of the surging flood waters.
There is no denying that the primary cause of water-logging in the city is the inadequate and outdated drainage system. A proper drainage system does not mean a few sewerage lines and drains only, it means building up a network that connects drains and sewerage lines with the natural water-bodies such as ponds, lakes and canals. Unfortunately Dhaka, which had hundreds of ponds, natural canals and lakes has been deprived of them by the city's unplanned growth and wholesale urbanisation in the last two decades. Low-lying areas in Savar, Ashulia and in the eastern fringe of the city are continuously being filled up in the name of development, which has resulted in water-logging.
Most of the 43 canals in the city have been grabbed by influential quarters who have filled them with earth, partially or totally, over the years due to the lack of initiative by the authorities to save the canals, which is the main reason for water-logging. The box culverts, constructed at different places, also remain clogged for lack of cleaning. WASA officials said they do not have modern equipment to clean the box culverts properly. The storm sewerage lines and surface drains of both WASA and DCC are also not functioning properly due to lack of proper maintenance. Water-logging due to poor drainage leaves most of the low-lying areas in the capital under ankle-deep water for at least a week following heavy rains. People who live in those areas have to make their way through this stinky, stagnant water every day running the risk of various infections.
It appears that the water-logged people are stranded for about six months in a year and can get relief only in the dry season. Such a situation goes on for the past several years. The worst sufferers are the school going children who wade through the dirty water every day. Reluctant parents are forced to let their children make their way through the stagnant water to school each day. Rickshawpullers stay away from the area due to the water, so there is no alternative to walking to school. Uncovered manholes of the area are also adding to the misery of the people. The water-logging in the area arises, as there is no outlet to pass the rainwater. Some residents say that construction of new buildings has filled up the storm sewerage drains and that is the main reason behind water logging in the area.
About 2.0 million people of the city's DND area have been seriously affected by severe water-logging. The area looks set to suffer from water-logging for some time more. Indiscriminate fish farming and encroachment of canals are contributing to the continual water-logging here. The residents have to live with the risk as the authorities concerned fail to take long-term measures to improve the situation. Another factor contributing to the problem is the encroachment of canals that are being filled up to set up gas and petrol filling stations. Over the years several hundred fishing farms have mushroomed in this place. The fishing farms block openings for flow of water into the canals to maintain their ponds, leading to water-logging.
The government recently removed the barricades put up by local fish farmers in north Matuail but not south Matuail. But most of the residents blame the authorities for not taking any effective steps to improve drainage system in the area. The 31.162 km of canals in the DND area, which have been excavated and cleaned, are now being filled up again due to garbage dumping. In places, encroachment has led to narrowing of canals. The canal, adjoining Dhaka-Chittagong highway, is being illegally occupied to set up CNG filling and petrol pump stations. Canal excavation brought some benefit to the local residents. However to get real results, the government has to complete the total plan including setting up of two more pump houses and improvement of the drainage system.
In order to improve the drainage system and remove water-logging in the area, a Tk 2.35 billion project proposal was prepared in 2005 under a long-term planning. The proposal based on field level reports and studies conducted by JICA in 1992, did not get government approval. Later, following a decision of the project evaluation committee in September, 2006, a Tk 110 million project was taken up as a part of emergency programmes. This included a feasibility study and canal excavation. The feasibility study, begun in February this year, will be completed early next year. Based on that, a long-term project proposal is expected to be formulated.
A number of surface drains in many areas of the capital have no covers and have been filled up with dust and garbage. Those are in need of immediate cleaning to restore drainage of waste and rain water.
The threat of severe water-logging like that experienced in 2004 still looms large. The city life remained paralysed for three days at a stretch at that time. Keeping that horrible experiences in mind, the authorities should expedite construction of necessary drains and storm sewerage to improve drainage conditions.
szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com