Connect, revive canals: speakers

Creating a network among canals and reviving water retention ponds are necessary to improve the capital's drainage and waterlogging problems, said speakers at a programme yesterday.

They also said political will and proper implementation of plans are needed to make Dhaka liveable again.

Urban Development Journalist Forum, Bangladesh (UDJF) organised the programme -- "Drainage Management and Canal Improvement in Dhaka" -- at Cirdap in Dhaka.

Dhakai, a yearly publication, was also launched at the event.

Presenting the keynote paper, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) president Akter Mahmud said there were no shortage of plans to improve the drainage system of Dhaka, but very little have been implemented.

"Over the years, canals have disappeared through encroachment. Water retention areas have been filled up. Water channels have been blocked. Therefore, when it rains, water cannot recede properly," he said.

Architect Iqbal Habib said Rajuk failed to manage usage of land properly in the city and therefore, most of the waterbodies have been occupied and many are disappearing.

"Related government bodies should help the city corporations with proper logistical support and plan to make the drainage system work and the canal network active," he said, referring to the recent takeover of the city canals by the two city corporations.

He also said along with recovering canals, creating a proper network for water flow is necessary to improve the drainage system.

Samakal special correspondent Amitosh Pal said, "There was a time when Wasa and the city corporations blamed each other for waterlogging. Now, the drainage and canals have been handed over to the city corporations. It took three years to do that. How long will it take to implement the plans?" 

The Daily Star journalist Helemul Alam Biplob said, "Wasa used to clean the drains and waterbodies right before rainy seasons. But those should be cleaned regularly. As the city corporations are now responsible for the canals they should look into it."

He also stressed the importance of proper excavation of canals.

BIP general secretary Dr Adil Mohammed Khan said a political will is needed to recover the canals. He also spoke about the importance of decentralisation to lessen the pressure on Dhaka.

Rajuk DAP project director Ashraful Islam claimed that the bigger water retention areas like Hatirjheel, Gulshan and Baridhara lakes have been created by Rajuk.

"We found out that local ponds were being used for retaining water in those areas… but the city became densely populated over the years and there is very little space left for creating more water retention ponds," he said. "Now, local reservoirs have to be revived so that they can retain water properly," he added.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said plans should be undertaken taking population density of an area into account.

He also said the mayors are doing their best to recover the canals, but they are facing many challenges. "Those can be overcome through working collectively and community engagement."

UDJF president Motin Abdullah presided over the programme. Its general secretary Sohel Mamun and Institute of Water and Environment chairman M Inamul Haque were also present at the event.