Around 7.53km in length, the Sutivola Canal flows alongside wards 38, 39, 42 and 43 of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Now choked with indiscriminate local garbage dumping and water hyacinths, it is difficult to even see the water.
The city corporation has initiated several clean-up drives for the canal, with Mayor Atiqul Islam himself joining these campaigns. But the results have been anything but satisfactory.
DNCC continues eviction, digging drive on Ramchandrapur canal for 2nd day Standing on the Satarkul Bridge, as far as the eye can see, the canal is filled with garbage and water hyacinths.
The canal continues to serve as a garbage dump due to the negligence of locals. Turning a blind eye to the DNCC’s efforts, they have kept on occupying and polluting the canal.
Moreover, as there are no walls along the canal, accidents are common.
The once vital canal has now become a source of misery for people owing to a lack of maintenance and cleanliness.
A visit along the canal's banks from Khilbarirtek to Satarkul earlier this week revealed that many illegal structures have been built on significant parts of the Sutivola Canal, based on cadastral survey (CS) lines.
Consequently, the canal has become constricted. Moving from the Satarkul Bridge towards the Rampura Bridge, one can see attempts to reclaim the canal's space by filling it with sand.
Additionally, locals are indiscriminately dumping household and shop waste into the canal from the Satarkul Bridge. Some have even fenced off parts of the canal with bamboo to cultivate fish.
Despite repeated requests from the city corporation to vacate the occupied spaces, no one has heeded its plea.
Local plights
Tayeb, a resident of East Podordia, said the canal had once been the main route of travel for locals.
“We used to travel by boat from Satarkul to Karwan Bazar via Rampura. As roads developed, canal travel decreased, and the canal ceased to be navigable. Now it is just a pile of garbage.”
The canal's appearance had changed drastically due to encroachment, with its banks narrowing over time, he added.
He mentioned that Mayor Atiqul Islam had once personally cleaned garbage from the canal.
“However, the situation has reverted to its former state, as people dump garbage, turning the canal into a cesspool. To the south of Satarkul, sand filling is going on to occupy the canal, with shops and houses being built over it. Encroachment is increasing, but I have heard there are plans to clear it all.”
"To solve Dhaka city's waterlogging issues, we must keep our canals operational,” said Md Rajat Ali, another local resident.
“Last year, the mayor visited the area and removed garbage from the canal. A clean canal keeps our minds fresh and is good for the area. The canal’s water used to be so clean that we even drank from it, but now its stench makes it impossible to stay near it for long, and mosquitoes are a constant problem due to its filthiness."
Meanwhile, Khilbarirtek resident Hashem Ali said he could not bear to see the canal in such a miserable state.
It was difficult to walk by the canal due to the garbage dumped by people, he said, adding that the stench and mosquito infestation had made living nearby more than one could stand.
“Motorbikes, rickshaws and bicycles often fall into the canal because its sides are open. Such accidents increase during the rainy season. The canal lacks railings, and children going to school are always at risk,” Hashem complained.
What do authorities have to say?
Efforts to contact DNCC Ward 39 Councillor Md Shafiqul Islam were unsuccessful as he was abroad, according to the councillor’s office.
However, Ward Secretary Russell Ahmed said the canal was associated with other wards, and people from those areas also dumped garbage into it. “Despite various campaigns to stop people from littering in the canal, no one listens.”
Russell also said that after his visit, the mayor promised the canal's restoration and the construction of walls along its banks.
Promises made
In December, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam announced that the Sutivola Canal in Badda would be restored and connected to Hatirjheel and the Turag River.
In line with his instructions, the canal was cleaned up, and the mayor himself boarded a boat in the canal.
However, shortly afterwards, the canal once again became filled with water hyacinths and garbage from households and shops.
Despite the city corporation's eviction efforts, encroachers have filled the canal with sand.
Is the DNCC mayor’s canal clean-up campaign enough to save the canals?
What are DNCC's plans for the reclaimed Ramchandrapur canal area?
Is the DNCC mayor’s canal clean-up campaign enough to save the canals?
What are DNCC's plans for the reclaimed Ramchandrapur canal area?The mayor warned the encroachers during his December visit, saying all necessary measures would be taken to keep the canal operational. He noted encroachment and garbage were disrupting this historic canal’s water flow, assuring everyone that the canal would be cleaned, and illegal structures along its banks would be removed.
The DNCC’s plan now includes building walls and walkways along the canal and restoring boat navigation as before.
