Dhaka is one of the densest and most polluted cities in the world. As the urban population surges, the city struggles to cope with the changes due to internal constraints and management limitations. Its air, water, land, sound -- all are polluted. Horrible traffic jams are also common.
The DCC suffers from inactivity, resulting in poor delivery of its services such as water and sanitation, sewerage, waste management, and maintaining footpaths and roads. Most citizens struggle for their survival. Due to the poor planning and enforcement of laws/policies, and a lack of leadership at the top political levels, Dhaka has become one of the worst cities in the world.
Let’s start with water: Sewage (both human and industrial waste) is being dumped into the canals and rivers. Powerful locals, backed by political leaders, continue to build illegal structures on the water bodies. The leather industry remains one of the biggest culprits, having polluted the Buriganga beyond repair.
The High Court had issued an order in 2010 to tackle the issue, but the order has yet to achieve fruition. This comes as no surprise, with the government itself building roads by destroying the canals (the Paribagh khal is a worthy example).
The water and sanitation problem will become a big threat in the coming days, with ground water having gone down more than 70 metres, leading to the destruction of the ecological balance and leading to increase in temperature and diseases. The UN predicts that by 2025, Dhaka will be home to more than 20 million people -- larger than Mexico, Beijing, and Shanghai. This will inevitably put further pressure on Dhaka’s already strained water management system.
To tackle the increasing demand for water, alternate, sustainable options must be looked into immediately to avoid disaster. The problem is not merely one of water availability, but of waste management, held back by inefficiency. With 80% of potable water ending up as waste-water, recycling becomes essential, a solution many developing countries have already implemented.
Then there’s the issue of traffic; it is by far one of the worst in the world. In an article published by the BBC, Joshua Martin reports that “it lacks a mass transit system or a major freeway to support the 15 million people who live and work here. A 15km ride in an auto-rickshaw can take two to three hours in heavy traffic, during which one has to contend with dust, exhaust fumes, extreme heat, and noise pollution. Traffic laws aren’t usually enforced and vehicles move in a terrifying dance routine.” In a piece by Michael Hobbes in The New Republic on July 2, 2014, it was reported that traffic jams cost Dhaka an estimated $3.8bn.
The number of flyovers will indubitably increase in the next 15 years, increasing transport costs with little or no effect on the amount of traffic. It mostly benefits private car owners, who make up a mere 5% of the population. In the greater Dhaka Metropolitan Area, walking remains the main form of transport (37.2%), followed by rickshaws (28.5%), public buses (24.4%) and private cars (3.8%). However, those who use public transport still have to walk a certain distance to reach their destination.
With only 400 kilometres of footpaths in the DCC area (according to DevCon), the plight of the pedestrian remains problematic. Ideally, Dhaka needs about 2,600 kilometres of footpaths. A study done by Work for a Better Bangladesh and HealthBridge reports that the most dangerous activities were crossing the road (46%) and walking along the road edge (35%). With only 3% of fatalities occurring at designated zebra crossings, it is evident that they provide effective protection for the pedestrian.
City-dwellers also suffer from a lack of public transport. There is no bust rapid transit, despite efforts to establish one from Gazipur to Sadarghat. Additionally, the recklessness of the bus drivers remains a constant menace. Comparatively, in other cities, safer and quicker modes of transport are provided in the form of trams or metro-rails.
With Dhaka being divided into two and having had no mayor since the sacking of Sadeque Hossain Khoka, there remains some potential for positive change. We, as citizens, can do little but hope for two new mayors who will provide us with the leadership to ensure safety and security for all of us.