Canals return to filthy state despite waste removal

Within a year, the canals of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have reverted to their previous condition, filled with discoloured garbage piles. These canals are essential for drainage, but the normal flow of water is obstructed due to the accumulation of waste.

Consequently, even light rain before the monsoon season causes waterlogging, inconveniencing city dwellers.

According to the Dhaka South City Corporation Waste Management Ward Office, several canals were cleaned at the end of July last year. These included Kajal Canal, Matuail cemetery canal, Mridha Bari canal, Shyampur canal from the front end of 24 Feet Road to Mohammadi Bridge, Shyampur canal from 24 Feet Road to Battala, Shahjahanpur Jheel to Basabo Kadamtala Shuknagar canal, Manda canal from Shuknagar to Shapla Bridge to Amin Mohammad Bridge, Dogair Sangbadik Bari canal from Staff Quarters, Sukhnagar-Nandipara-Trimohani (Jirani) Canal, and Zia Sarani Canal. Despite these efforts, within a year, the canals are once again filled with human waste.

All nine canals of the DSCC are more or less clogged with garbage. Everything from household to shop waste is dumped into these canals.

The Kajal canal, located in Ward No. 63 of DSCC, is particularly affected, with its water flow obstructed by piles of dirt. Recent rains in the capital, influenced by Cyclone Remal, caused waterlogging in this area, which persisted for a week due to the blocked water flow.

The canal is filled with polythene, plastic, broken chairs, torn clothes, mattresses, and bamboo mats. Similar conditions prevail in the Matuail and Mridha Bari canals, where people must hold their noses due to the stench while passing by.

Sohanur, a local resident, mentioned that household waste is directly dumped into the canal, blocking its flow and creating an unbearable smell of sewage and urine for passersby.

The Basabo Kadamtala Shuknagar canal is also in a deplorable state, with dead dogs, foul-smelling sewage, and polythene and plastics filling the water.

Local resident Monirul Islam said that a dog was killed in a car accident a few days ago and remained uncollected by city corporation workers for two days. Eventually, locals pushed it into the canal, where it remains due to the lack of water flow, causing a foul smell to spread around the area.

Looking at the Shyampur canal and the Jirani canal running over Nandipara, one might mistake them for garbage dumps. The Manda canal appears like a green field from a distance.

Although DSCC has initiated restoration work on the Shyampur, Jirani, Manda, and Kalunagar canals, there is scepticism about whether the work will be completed on time.

Ataur Rahman, a Nandipara resident, said: "I heard that the city corporation has started efforts to renovate the canal and clear encroachments, but I haven't seen any progress yet. I doubt whether the canal can be freed from encroachment."

Highlighting the fact that many canal lands of DSCC have been encroached upon, he added that the encroachers are mostly local influential people.

He suggested that the city corporation should demarcate all canals according to CS (Cadastral Survey) and RS (Revisional Survey) maps. If the encroached canal lands are reclaimed through proper demarcation, the canals will be wider, which will help restore the normal flow of water.

Professor Aktar Mahmud of Jahangirnagar University's Department of Urban and Regional Planning believes it is essential to raise awareness among the public to prevent them from throwing garbage into canals or water bodies.

He said that various methods can be used to educate people. If these methods fail, then imposing fines or punishments might be necessary to encourage compliance, ultimately benefiting the community.

Dhaka South City Corporation Cleaning Inspector Md Salim Mridha said that public and sewage line waste are becoming entangled, despite repeated warnings. They have used loudspeakers to advise against throwing waste into the sewerage lines or canals, yet the public does not heed these warnings.

Regarding dumping of garbage in the Kajal canal, Dhaka South City Corporation No. 63 Ward Councillor Shafiqul Islam Khan said: “City corporation workers collect garbage from every house. However, residents throw their waste into the canal to avoid paying the Tk100 bill. Despite repeated requests, residents do not listen.”

“The city corporation is making every effort to keep the canal clean, but without public cooperation, it is not possible. Even the DSCC mayor has personally asked residents not to throw garbage into the canal, but compliance remains low. Consequently, the area suffers from waterlogging, even a week after storms,” he added.

Dhaka South City Corporation's Chief City Planner Md Sirajul Islam said that the city corporation has initiated a project to restore and modernize the canals under its jurisdiction. Four canal projects are currently underway. The plan includes de-encroaching and modernizing all canals in the area. This involves constructing bicycle lanes, approach roads, and amphitheatres by removing canal waste and silt.

The city corporation will also install sitting benches, children's play areas, RCC retaining walls, safety shields, scenic safety fences, and public toilets, he added.

Regarding waste removal, the waste management department of Dhaka South City Corporation informed Bangla Tribune that in July 2023, it removed 1,017 tons of waste from nine canals in three days. Over 1,000 cleaners participated in this effort daily. The canals were thoroughly cleaned but have since become dirty again and need to be cleaned once more. The city corporation plans to beautify and de-encroach all canals, including Shyampur, Jirani, Manda, and Kalungar canals.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has started a project worth Tk898.73 crore to enhance the aesthetic environment of the Manda, Kalungar, Shyampur, and Jirani canals. This includes spending Tk397 crore on the 8.7km long Manda canal. DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh announced that these four canals would be restored and modernized by June next year.

Md Khairul Baker, superintending engineer of the Environment Climate and Disaster, Management Circle, Dhaka South City Corporation, said that all canals will be cleaned and modernized in phases. While some canals have been cleared, they have become clogged with garbage again.

He emphasized that proper drainage requires keeping the canals clean and that residents must act responsibly by not throwing garbage into them. The city corporation can only maintain cleanliness if citizens cooperate.