A significant portion of Dholai Khal in the capital’s Sutrapur area has been taken by the encroachers who seem immune to any sort of legal action or awareness campaigns.
The once-mighty drainage canal can now be recognised by the thin streak of water that it has been turned into over the years, looking more like a dumping ground for garbage and a breeding haven for mosquitoes.
Locals said the present state of the canal is largely due to the negligence of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), which is responsible for overseeing the drainage and sewerage systems of the capital.
Md Hanif Sheikh, 70, a resident of Sutrapur, said encroachment was not a new phenomenon. “I don’t know when it started, but encroachment of the canal has been taking place since as far back as I can remember.”
“Most of the people dump their household waste in the canal and many have even occupied a significant portion of it. They start by discharging garbage and, when the ground gets filled up, they stake their claim for it,” he said.
Another resident, Mohammad Kalu, said canal dredging projects that are undertaken by the DWASA- usually before the monsoon- “do not yield any lasting dividends.”
According to sources, Dholai Khal- which originated from Babubazar, winding its way through Nawabpur, Narinda, Sutrapur and Jaluanagar and finally falling into Buriganga and Balu rivers- remained an important landmark of Dhaka city until the 1970’s.
Mughal Subedar Islam Khan had it excavated in the early years of the 16th century in a bid to defend Dhaka from invasion- dividing it into two parts- and also to carry off excess water from the city and provide its residents with an internal means of communication.
Through the centuries, the canal has been turned into a rubbish dump, existing only in the areas between Sutrapur Lohar Pool (a now defunct suspension bridge) and Farashganj, Buriganga.
During a recent visit to the area, it was found that sewage and garbage are being dumped into the canal, filling up whatever vacant spaces were left and making way for further encroachment.
The water has become dark in colour, poisonous and filled with plastic bags. The air is heavy and foul-smelling. The entire area is waterlogged each time heavy rain falls, especially during the monsoon.
Locals said if encroachment of the canal and the culture of random rubbish dumping continue unabated, soon the canal may cease to exist at all.
Superintendent Engineer of DWASA, Md Zaki Mostafa Chowdhury, said he was “not aware” of any incident of encroachment as no one had brought any allegations.
“Sometimes people dump rubbish near the lakeside area. We will arrange awareness-raising programmes to make them understand the harmful effects of such activates. In regards to clearing the lakesides, we have already started working with the assistance of the World Bank,” he said. He added that if any incidents of encroachment come to their attention, they will take steps against those involved.