A MODERATE to heavy rain still submerges large parts of Dhaka, including most of its roads, despite the authorities having spent hundreds of crores on projects to mitigate water stagnation problems. Most areas of the city went under water, causing immense sufferings to city dwellers, on July 12, after a rainfall measuring 130 millimetres in six hours. City dwellers had to wade through knee-to-waist deep water to reach destinations as most roads went under water, which did not recede in 10鈥�12 hours. Water also entered hospitals, markets, shops, restaurants and other establishments. When water stagnation has been an issue of concern for many years and appears to have only intensified, the authorities have promised a better situation in the next monsoon. The authorities are also reported to have spent hundreds of crores on projects to save the city from water stagnation, but the projects have yielded nothing fruitful. The city corporations have spent Tk 730 crore in the past four years on mitigating water stagnation. The DNCC has spent Tk 360 crore and the DSCC Tk 370 crore. Besides, both city corporations, which took charge of the drainage system and canals in December 2020 鈥� have spent large amounts on projects on the drainage system and the protection and reclamation of city canals. Yet, Dhaka goes under water every time it rains.
A poor drainage system, a lack of wetland and the sorry state of the canals are the major reasons that have made Dhaka vulnerable to water stagnation. A recent Bangladesh Institute of Planners report shows that Dhaka has lost 17.67 per cent of its wetland and 15.4 per cent of greenery since 1995 to unplanned development. The report says that 20.58 per cent of the total city land area was wetland and 35.71 per cent green and vacant land in 1995. At that time, about 43 per cent land was developed, which has now increased to 76.78 per cent, and more city land is coming under concrete coverage. The sorry state of the water bodies in Dhaka is also alarming. Not a single canal in Dhaka is, as studies show, now free of encroachment. Over 22,500 acres of wetland, including water bodies, flood-flow zones, low-lying areas and canals in and around Dhaka, have been filled up since Dhaka鈥檚 detailed area plan came into effect in 2010. The city authorities have also failed to improve the drainage system while development projects, including the Dhaka Metro Rail and Padma Bridge Rail Link Project, have destroyed, as DSCC officials say, several drainage systems. The authorities also admit that they have not yet completed the annual drain cleaning activities, which typically occur in April鈥揓une.
It is high time the authorities abandoned paying lip service to the issue and showed the will to reclaim and preserve the city鈥檚 wetland, green areas and water bodies to save the city from water stagnation and make it liveable. The city authorities must mend the drainage system.