Reclaiming Dhaka's canals: City corps start demarcating boundaries

With several canals of Dhaka lost to unplanned urbanization, encroachment and pollution, its two city corporations are making efforts to demarcate boundaries, a critical step in preserving and maintaining the city's canal system.

Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, is surrounded by four rivers: Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Turag and Balu. These rivers are connected by numerous canals, which spread across the city like a web. 

According to the latest survey by the Dhaka district administration in 2016, there are 58 canals in Dhaka. However, the two city corporations of Dhaka have reported a higher number, estimating at least 69 canals. Many of these canals have lost their existence due to different reasons.

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Most of these canals are owned by the Public Works Department. Initially, the responsibility of maintaining these canals was given to the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa). Later, it was transferred to the two city corporations of Dhaka. 

After taking on this responsibility, the city corporations focused on reclaiming these canals, starting with demarcating their boundaries. The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has reported significant progress in this task.

Following a presidential order in 1988, Dhaka Wasa was responsible for the maintenance of these canals. However, annual surveys by Wasa revealed a gradual narrowing of the canals. Wasa then informed the Public Works Department that the absence of boundary demarcation was leading to encroachment on these canals.

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On December 31, 2020, the local government ministry transferred 26 canals and another water body from Wasa to the two city corporations. Additionally, the city corporations received 14 more canals from various government agencies. Later, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) discovered additional canals within its jurisdiction.

Currently, there are 69 canals within the two city corporations' jurisdictions, but many of these have disappeared. Among the existing ones, the DNCC oversees 29 canals and one water body, while the DSCC manages 11 canals. The DSCC later identified 14 more canals, bringing its total to 25.

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There are also plans to incorporate 14 more canals from the Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) area into the DSCC, currently managed by the Bangladesh Water Development Board. Several meetings have already been held regarding the transfer of these canals to the city corporation.

Meanwhile, after taking over the responsibility for its canals, the DNCC assigned the task of demarcating their boundaries to the army. 

Initially, there were complications regarding which records to use for demarcation. Eventually, a combination of cadastral survey (CS), revisional survey (RS) and metropolitan survey records was used.

DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam announced that the boundaries of all canals would be determined according to CS records. Following his directive, the DNCC formed a task force to accurately complete the boundary demarcation. 

According to DNCC sources, a total of 980 boundary pillars have been installed: 696 according to CS records, 105 according to RS records, 52 according to Bangladesh digital land survey records, 122 as determined by Wasa and five according to other records. The installation of pillars is still ongoing, and the DNCC also plans to construct a hydro eco park around the Kalyanpur retention pond.

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The DNCC's 29 canals and one water body include Katasur and Ramchandrapur canals in Mohammadpur; Kalyanpur main canal and five other Kalyanpur canals in Mirpur; Rupnagar main canal and several branches in Pallabi; Diabari and Abdullahpur canals in Uttara; Ibrahimpur canal in Cantonment; Mohakhali canal in Ramna; Shahjadpur and other canals in Gulshan; Begunbari and Narai canals in Demra and Sabujbagh.

On the other hand, the DSCC received nine canals from Dhaka Wasa and two from other agencies. Later, it identified 14 more canals. The government approved a Tk898-crore project in October 2022 to reclaim and modernize four significant canals—Kalunagar, Shyampur, Zirani and Manda. 

The DSCC reports ongoing regular cleaning of other canals but has not made significant progress in boundary demarcation.

Its canals include SDC-1, MDC-2, SDC-3, SDC-4, Pagla branch, DL-1, DL-2, DL-3, DL-4, L-1, R-1, Kutubkhali and Mridhabari canals, among others.

What DNCC, DSCC say

DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam told this correspondent that 980 pillars had been installed so far, with plans for an additional 1,600. 

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“The Bangladesh Army is carrying out the work, which is expected to be completed on time. The demarcation will facilitate the restoration and enhancement of the canals, including the construction of aesthetic roads and other civic amenities along the canal banks.”

Attempts to reach DSCC CEO Md Mizanur Rahman and Chief Engineer Ashiqur Rahman for comments were unsuccessful. 

However, DSCC Public Relations Officer Md Abu Nasher said while the DSCC had initially received 11 canals, it had independently identified and begun reclamation activities on several additional canals. 

The main four canals would be renovated under the approved project, with work expected to start soon, he noted.