Political consensus needed to reduce urban waterlogging: Urban planners

Urban planners have stressed that reducing waterlogging in cities requires not only legal action against canal and waterbody encroachers but also political consensus.

"Encroachers almost always have the backing and protection of different political parties. Even when governments change, these people still manage to stay above the law," they said.

These views were shared today during an online discussion titled "Urban Waterlogging Ahead of Monsoon: IPD's Observations", organised by the Institute for Planning and Development (IPD).

While presenting the keynote paper, the institute's Director Adil Muhammad Khan said, "Despite various projects undertaken in recent years in urban areas—including canal restoration and drainage development—waterlogging has continued to occur in Dhaka, Chattogram, and other cities even after light rainfall.

"In Chattogram, coordinated initiatives among different agencies and proper planning have helped make the situation somewhat more tolerable. In Dhaka, although there have been efforts to recover canals, the re-filling of the Old Buriganga Channel has undermined these initiatives, resulting in a loss of around Tk30 crore in project funds."

"Many urban areas lacked adequate preparation for the monsoon due to an ineffective local government system and the absence of mayors and councillors. Unplanned and arbitrary housing developments in low-lying areas and wetlands, often disregarding planning and legal frameworks, have prevented proper drainage of water," he added.

Adil Khan further pointed out, "Since the mass uprising in July, not a single person has been jailed for encroaching on canals or waterbodies, as if such acts of environmental destruction are being granted impunity. As a result, canal grabbers have now returned in many places with greater influence, often under different identities."

The Institute for Planning and Development identified several main causes of waterlogging, including unchecked encroachment and filling of canals and waterbodies, weak and unplanned drainage systems, loss of connection between natural and artificial drainage, and urban development in low-lying and wetland areas. 

Other issues highlighted include the constant raising of road levels, lack of coordination between urban planning and drainage systems, poor monitoring by city authorities, careless waste disposal by the public, and weak enforcement of environmental laws.

To reduce urban waterlogging, the institute recommended ensuring smooth, unobstructed water flow; improving waste management and public awareness; maintaining open canals; allocating 25% of urban land for green spaces and 10–15% for waterbodies or reservoirs, with a limit of 50% concrete coverage; protecting existing ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands; creating new ones if needed; setting up rainwater retention systems; and combining modern drainage planning with urban development using tools like GIS and water modelling.

Md Shah Jalal Misuk, assistant professor at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, said, "Recently, Chattogram has improved its waterlogging situation because of joint efforts by different urban agencies and ongoing big drainage projects. But to solve the problem for good, all 57 canals in Chattogram need to be fully restored and working. 

"The main reason for waterlogging is the failure to follow the Chattogram metropolitan development plan when managing urban growth."

Environmental and social activist Mizanur Rahman from Jurain said, "The suffering caused by waterlogging in the Jurain–Shyampur area is hard to describe. Even though a multi-billion taka project was done in the DND area with the army's help, waterlogging has not gone down. It seems like everyone cares more about the project's money and benefits. Even after the big public protest, the same old problems remain."

From Khulna, urban planner Sheikh Adnan Islam said, "Many government officials are involved in the encroachment of canals and waterbodies. It is necessary to abolish provisions that grant them immunity and bring them under the purview of the law."

"We need to restore navigability in the Mayur and Bhairab rivers and put an end to corruption disguised as river dredging projects," he added.

Farhadur Reza, associate professor at Jahangirnagar University, said, "Nature-based solutions must be used to address waterlogging." He also stressed the need to reduce concrete coverage in urban areas.

From Mymensingh, urban planner Fahim Ahmed Mondol said, "Many canals in the city are being filled in because of housing projects. Sixteen-story buildings are being built beside roads that are only seven feet wide, yet the authorities remain indifferent."

From Cumilla, urban planner Ibtesam Rashedin Najla said, "The city's ponds are gradually disappearing, and during waterlogging, the drains turn into deadly traps."