Pre-monsoon drive
In the 1960s and early 1970s, the pre-monsoon city sewerage and drainage systems cleaning drive used to be a major annual activity of Dhaka City Corporation and Wasa. This operation helped prevent occurrence of water logging of Dhaka streets during monsoon. It is not known why such an important operation was abandoned resulting in flooding of the city streets during every monsoon. Lest the new govt miss this impending crucial problem through oversight, I would like to draw the attention of the MPs concerned, before it is too late, to the crux of the problem. It is believed that the following cleaning operation in a professional and concerted manner would greatly reduce the intensity of the Dhaka city water logging during the coming rainy season. Pre-monsoon activities should be complete by 30 April: 1. All surface drains must be thoroughly cleaned up of solid waste/garbage. (City Corporation). 2. All city streets, lanes & by-lanes must be properly cleared of construction materials, solid waste, garbage etc. (City Corporation). 3. All drains canals, culverts etc must be thoroughly cleaned, (City Corporation). 4. All storm sewers must be cleaned up of deposits, dirt, solid waste, garbage etc ( Wasa). 5. All domestic sewers must be cleared of settled materials, dirt, solid waste, garbage etc. ( Wasa). Activities during monsoon: 1. All development works requiring road cutting must be stopped. (Dhaka City Corporation). 2. Continuous supervision & monitoring of both organisations to ensure no resistance of water flow in the sewers, drains, streets and canals must be ensured. A realistic work plan must be prepared as early as possible to complete the tasks in time. City dwellers must be sensitised about their roles & responsibilities through the media. The entire operation should be frequently revised at the ministry level.
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