Trackback URL
Download PDF It takes a long time for rainwater to drain out in around 25 places in Dhaka mainly due to lack of proper drainage system and filling up of canals.
An official of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) said they have plans to set up additional drainage pipes at those places in addition to recovering the canals to improve the situation.
The places include Pallabi Bus Stop, Mirpur-10 and 13, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Rokeya Sarani, Shantinagar, Monipur, Madhyabagh, Pirerbagh, Islambagh, Monipuripara, southern end of Bir Shrestha Shaheed Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, Razarbagh, Fakirapool, Motijheel, Islambagh, New Market, Mohammadpur, Goran, Sipahibagh, Meradiya, Shahjadpur Dokkhinpara and a number of spots on the south side of Mirpur Road up to Gabtoli.
The Kalyanpur Ga canal desperately needs re-excavation in order to improve drainage in Kazipara, Sheorapara, Monipur, Madhyabagh and Pirerbagh, said an official of Dhaka Wasa adding that the canal was filled with earth due to unplanned urbanisation.
Waterlogging on the south side of Bir Shrestha Shaheed Mustafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur occurs as a road and floodlights of the stadium fall under the alignment of Segunbagicha canal, the official said. Since the canal has been narrowed down considerably, rainwater recedes slowly, said the official.
The official said an initiative has been taken to acquire land from the National Sports Council and the Public Works Department to make way for water to recede.
To improve waterlogging around Mirpur Road it is necessary to widen the Kalyanpur Ka canal, he said.
The official said drainage pipes need to be installed between Bijoy Sarani-Rokeya Sarani intersection and the Pangu Hospital via the Nam flat buildings on Manik Mia Avenue. The pipes would be connected to the Kalyanpur Cha canal near the hospital, said the official.
Drainage of water around Rokeya Sarani would be improved if a drainage line could be connected to the box culvert of Ebrahimpur canal, he said.
Non-existence of a rainwater outlet at west Monipur is the reason for prolonged waterlogging there, the official said.
Locals said ankle-deep water remains stagnant in the area for weeks after a heavy downpour. The drainage pipes of the area had a link to the Kalyanpur Ga canal but it has been snapped due to unplanned urbanisation.
The drainage system of the area has been maintained by Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and it has launched a project this fiscal year to improve the situation, said a DCC official.
Since Begunbari canal has been narrowed and a large water body next to Bangladesh Bank in Motijheel has been filled up, waterlogging at Motijheel is a common scene after a downpour, said an Wasa official. The large water body has become almost nonexistent due to unplanned urbanisation after a box culvert was built on Segunbagicha canal in 1992.
This is the main reason behind the waterlogging in Fakirapool, Motijheel and Arambagh areas, the official added. Dhaka Wasa plans to connect a drainage line to the box culvert to reduce waterlogging in Motijheel.
Many residents of Islambagh, especially those in Dokkhinpara, have been facing severe waterlogging for about two years as there is no drainage system of Wasa in Islambagh and the DCC surface drains are inadequate.
Mojibur Rahman, a local, blamed the filling up of a large water body in the area two years ago which helped drain out rainwater before. He said now it takes about 2-3 days for water to recede after heavy raining.
As for Islambagh, the Wasa official said they have as yet no plan to solve the problem in that area.
The residents of Razarbagh, Mouchak, Shantinagar and Siddheswari are facing waterlogging due to the filling up of Shahjahanpur canal, said another official.
The situation in the areas was even worse as rainwater took 3-4 days to drain out and the situation has improved a bit when drainage pipes were installed a few years ago. It now takes 4-5 hours after a heavy downpour, he said.
“To improve the situation even further, we have a plan to set up a drainage line to Begunbari canal from Siddheswari via Moghbazar,” he said.
Residents of Shahjadpur Dokkhinpara face waterlogging at many spots as there is no drainage network of Wasa. It takes 4-5 hours time for water to recede after a moderate shower, said Khalil, a resident of the area.
The DCC during construction of a road there did not elevate the road and this is the main reason for waterlogging, he claimed.
Executive Officer of DCC Zone-9 Samsuzzaman said the residents of the area did not leave space for water to recede while building their houses and this is one of the major reasons of waterlogging there.
He said water would have gone into people’s houses had they made the road higher.
“We have plans to take similar initiatives, after the rainy season is over, to improve waterlogging at many areas in the city,” he said.
Comments are not moderated and only expresses personal views of visitors. BangladeshNews.com.bd is not responsible for commets posted by visitors.
Leave a Reply