Take early steps to resolve waterlogging in Dhaka

Waterlogging of the capital city has been for a long time. When the rainy season comes, the city dwellers face various kinds of problems. Many areas including the roads and streets of Dhaka get submerged in the slightest rain. After several hours of continuous rain, water rose up to two-three feet in many areas. But it takes four to five hours and in some cases one to two days for this water to go down. As a result, people and vehicles have to suffer a lot of problems on the roads. Most of the time, the authorities act after the onset of flooding, but if preparations are made before the onset of the monsoon season, the capital city will be de-flooded. Dhaka residents have to suffer a lot due to flooding. The sad thing is that many people die of electrocution during the rains in many areas when the electric wires on the side of the road snap. On September 21, 2023, a total of 5 people, including 4 of the same family, including a child, were electrocuted by a roadside electric wire in the Dhaka Commerce College area of ​​Mirpur during the night of rain. So this year we have to prepare in advance. Those concerned say that Dhaka WASA was once responsible for the construction and maintenance of the main drain lines in Dhaka city. The responsibility of the branch lines was vested in the City Corporation. At that time, 385 km of the capital's total drainage lines were under Dhaka WASA and about 2,500 km were under Dhaka City Corporation. Apart from this, Dhaka Wasa was also responsible for the maintenance of 26 canals with a length of 74 km and 10 km of box-culverts. That's why the organizations were putting the responsibility on each other to solve the flooding caused by monsoon. But from December 31, 2020, all the drains and canals under the responsibility of WASA were handed over to the two city corporations. Later, they freed them and started decorating them. They got about two and a half years after taking over the main responsibility of the canal. The question is how much the two city corporations have been able to do to solve the waterlogging! The existence of all the rivers around Dhaka is in crisis. Earlier, when it rained, the water would go through canals to rivers, but now all these canals or rivers are almost full. Due to which water in the city does not have a place to go down, resulting in waterlogging. But authorities have to clear all the city's drains before flooding occurs. One of the main reasons for flooding in Dhaka city is the lack of sewage system in Dhaka. Canals, the main means of water drainage, are filled with illegal encroachments and solid waste. Water cannot flow into the river through city canals, drains, box culverts and brick sewer lines. There are also problems with the drainage system. Where various wastes such as polythene and other non-perishable materials are easily washed away with water and get stuck in the drain, as a result water cannot be drained easily, resulting in waterlogging. But it is very important to solve these problems before monsoon. There are many homeless people in the city who do not have their own homes. At night, the rush takes shelter in different alleys of the city. But due to flooding they lost that shelter too. Pedestrians and small vehicles often fall into potholes and are embarrassed. Many times, there are serious injuries. Therefore, early steps should be taken to solve the waterlogging in the capital city of Dhaka. Adequate drainage should be constructed to alleviate waterlogging in Dhaka city. We have to make sure that the rain water can flow easily into the river. City canals, drains, box culverts and brick sewer lines should be kept clean and passable. All the canals and rivers around Dhaka must be preserved. Although severe heat wave is currently going on in the country, after a few days severe waterlogging will be seen in Dhaka Therefore, the common people as well as the government should take effective steps in this regard before the monsoon to resolve this waterlogging. If only the government or the city corporation will work to control the flooding, the consequences will be very dire. Because many of us throw the waste down the drain, resulting in waterlogging. So the government as well as itself has to be careful and warn others about this.Then it will be possible to solve the waterlogging of Dhaka city. Sakibul Hasan Department Of Sociology Dhaka College, Dhaka