Waterlogging has turned into a perennial hazard to the city dwellers that go through a sticky patch during monsoon and at some other times.
All the government attempts for ridding the city residents of this longstanding problem have so far proved futile.
A series of irregularities and virtual inaction on the part of the local government bodies drag the waterlogging problem on for years.
The city residents as usual suffered as most low-lying areas went under knee-deep water for the moderate to heavy shower that started since early yesterday.
The inundation unfailingly helped obstruct plying of vehicles on the city roads, thus contributing to long tailbacks on most major streets.
Mahmudul Kabir, assistant meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, told the Dhaka Tribune: “52mm rain has been recorded yesterday from 6am to 12pm and 17mm rain from 12pm to 3pm in the capital.”
During monsoon, even after light shower, roads and lanes in different areas of the capital go under knee-deep water, a very common murky situation that apparently have failed to draw the attention of the authorities concerned for sustainable steps to address the longstanding problem.
The capital’s Azimpur, Lalbagh, Jigatala, Hazaribagh, Mohammadpur, Kallyanpur, Mirpur, Taltola, Shewrapara, Kalabagan, Shukrabad, Indira Road, Rajabazar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Shantinagar, Badda, Baridhara, Natun Bazar, Sayedabad, Jatrabari and other areas were flooded.
The city residents blamed the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority of the two city corporations for their inaction.
Arshadul Alam, a resident in Azimpur, said they were going through a bad patch due to yesterday’s rain.
He said the heavy shower flooded the Azimpur main road, cross sections and internal lanes adjoining the Azimpur graveyard and government staff quarters.
Akbar Hossain, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, was seen standing agape on the road in Shukrabad area with his auto-rickshaw.
He told this correspondent, “The vehicle’s engine refuses to start as water entered the device while I was driving through a road flooded with knee-deep water.”
Farida Akhtar, a resident of Purana Paltan, said most roads in the area had gone under water and the authorities turned a blind eye to this problem.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on several occasions directed the Local Government Division and its associate bodies, Dhaka Wasa, Dhaka North and South City Corporations and other authorities concerned to immediately take effective steps to salvage the capital from waterlogging during rainy season.
But none of the agencies could properly comply with the premier’s directive.
The Wasa also undertook the Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation project in association with the World Bank in 2008 to reclaim 26 canals from grabbers, but with limited results.
According to Wasa sources, there were originally 65 canals, but with the passage of time, the number came down to 43. Of the remaining canals, 20 have already dried out while many have been filled up with garbage and the rest are gradually being encroached upon.
Moreover, last year the Dhaka Wasa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vitens Evides International, Netherlands with a view to removing waterlogging from the capital.
Besides, the Dhaka South City Corporation and Dhaka North City Corporation have been installing pipes as part of storm drain system in different areas of the city.
Contacted, Dhaka Wasa Managing Director Taqseem A Khan termed the waterlogging a temporary problem.
To drain out extra water, we installed pumps at different places, he said, adding that all pumps operated after a heavy rain.
Earlier, Dhaka Wasa Deputy Managing Director (Administration) Md Ataur Rahman attributed fund crunch to the poor condition of the drainage and sewerage system in the city.
“We have already contacted different donor agencies for their support to develop this sector in Dhaka,” he added.
Ataur also blamed the city people for dumping waste in the canals and drains, thereby preventing the free flow of water.
