Only 7 spots in Dhaka North may see waterlogging for maximum 3-hrs this year: Administrator

As many as seven spots under Dhaka North City Corporation area may experience water logging for maximum three hours as the authorities concerned have already taken a pragmatic step to mitigate the sufferings of the city dwellers.

"Taking over the charge of the office, I have identified 19 major waterlogged areas. Out of those 19 spots, only seven areas will experience waterlogging in case of heavy to moderate rains," Dhaka North Administrator Mohammad Azaz said in an interview with BSS.

Explaining why it will take three hours for the water to drain, he said, "Since the pockets for water drainage are blocked, we are cleaning those pockets. We will build a network in the next financial year. The following year, there will be a system for water to drain within one to one and a half hours."

The administrator said if the 19 canals, which are in Dhaka North's canal restoration project, can be cleaned properly, it would be possible to drain out huge rainwater from the city.

Putting emphasis on looking for the root-cause of the waterlogging and its solution, Mohammad Azaz said when the devastating deluge occurred in Dhaka in 1988, a plan was taken to protect some cities, including Dhaka from floods as well as rainwater. Around 50 kilometers of embankments were built in some parts of Dhaka city while doing so the government itself filled reservoirs.

He said, by doing this, the government showed that reservoirs can be filled and such activities of the government ultimately inspired some quarters, including Bashundhara, Eastern Housing and others to do so in a large scale facilitating the random housing business by filling the reservoirs.

The administrator said, "Due to these activities, all the canals, ponds and reservoirs have been filled. The rivers around Dhaka, five flowing inside Dhaka, have been filled with soil and subsequently the housing and roads have been built there intensifying the waterlogging in the capital.

As a result, there is no way to manage and discharge rainwater from canals and rivers, he mentioned, saying that whenever it rains in Dhaka, waterlogging occurs in Kalshi, Paltan, Khilgaon Jhilpar, 39-number slum on the banks of Hatirjheel in Mirpur, Ashkona just opposite the airport area, Dhanmondi-27 and some parts of Rayer Bazar.

"Each of these places had rivers before and therefore, the reason must be investigated to resolve the flooding. Otherwise, just taking up a project will not solve it," he added.

Noting that our manpower is still cleaning drains in Dhaka North's various areas, including Kalshi, Mohammad Azaz said, "A few days back, we rescued the Paris Canal. There is a canal that is completely filled, we are cleaning that canal."

He said if there is moderate to heavy rain in Dhaka this time; water will not accumulate in seven places for more than three hours. That is why there is no need projects to take projects worth about Tk700 or Tk1000 crore like before, the budget for canal cleaning is being used only.

Citing the manpower shortage in resolving waterlogging as another major problem, the administrator said, "Dhaka WASA has handed over the drains to the two city corporations. The city corporations now looking after more or less 56 canals but it needs more manpower to clean these canals and drains.

"We've to continue working with the previous manpower and equipment. We don't even have the machine to clean the canals, although the authorities concerned in the last 15 years spent time only in the name of development. The WASA hasn't taken any initiative in this regard," he added.