Cover Story
THE SMELLY SIDE OF HATIRJHEEL
Photo: Prabir Das
The pollution of the lake is intensifying with each day. The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) experts believes that without a proper waste water treatment plant, which they forgot to put in during the construction, there is no way out from the stagnant contaminated water. However the responsible authority- Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA), claim that they decided to allow the wastes into the lake only during the rainy season. But they also admit their decision will not help the present situation.
The civil engineering department head of BUET, Professor Mujibur Rahman explains that the project has installed a screen at the entrance of the sewerage line to stop solid wastes from entering the lake. But in the rainy season the screen was blocked by huge solid wastes, so water flowed back and caused water blockage in Dhanmondi, Kalabagan and Panthapath areas, “DWASA removed the fixed screen as an instant solution to deal with the water stagnation and it made the condition worst. They supposed to separate the sewerage and storm water drainage system to keep your urban landscape and rain water retention area net and clean.”
The problem surfaced a few months after the inauguration, when the stench emanating from the contaminated water filled the lake and its adjacent areas. Experts believe that the absence of proper monitoring, a waste water treatment plant and the illegal dumping of industrial waste and the connecting of the sewerage line with the rain water collection channels has turned the situation from bad to worse. Even the Special Sewerage Diversion Structure (SSDS), which is designed especially for Hatirjheel, that reroutes the storm water and sewerage line, has proved inefficient to deal with the solid wastes.
Following the SSDS only rain water was supposed to enter the lake through different box culvert. The plan aimed at retaining the rainwater, but with the absurd connection, along with rainwater, solid wastes are now also entering the lake. “We expect that the lake will remain neat and clean but at the same time we are connecting sewerage line with the storm water line and polluting the whole area. This is absolutely ridiculous,” Rahman adds.
The absurd connection between storm water and sewerage line: the solid waste are now entering the lake. Photo: Prabir Das
RAJUK plans to get rid of the problem as soon as possible so they are using pumps near the Rampura Bridge to remove the smell. Abdul Mannan, acting chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (Rajuk), believes that the odour in the water at Hartirjheel is a structural and technical problem. The odour seeping out from the water is the result of sewerage entering the drains, so he assures, “Once the pumps are in place, there'll be no stench from the water.”
The Hatirjheel canal is mainly polluted during the rainy season as sewer waste with storm water falls into the canal through 11 outlets. Experts have criticized the new plan, since through the outlets Hatirjheel canal connects with the Balu River, which later joins the Shitalakkhya. So with this canal getting polluted the water of the two rivers is also getting contaminated. Architect Iqbal Habib, a consultant of Hatirjheel-Begunbari project believes that it is not possible to clean the water at Hatirjheel simply by adopting ad hoc basis plan. Moreover there is a strong possibility that the waste water will rest on the lake ground as sediments and spread more unpleasant smells in the area. Habib said when project began they suggested to the concerned authorities that they should set up a solar aquatic treatment plant to remove the odour from the water, “It is a natural mechanism of cleaning water by using solar power and water hyacinth. Unfortunately they do not listen to us. We fear if it is continued the sedimentation will create more difficulties.”
Experts believe that it is not possible to clean the water at Hatirjheel by adopting an ad hoc basis plan. Photo: Star File
The contaminated water is posing threats to health as well. Photo: Prabir Das
Due to the delay in starting the waste water treatment plant the cost for structural development is shooting up. Photo: Prabir Das
Kingbodontir Dhaka a book by Nazir Hossain says that in the nineteenth century the British government and the local Zaminders used Hatirjheel for elephant bathing. But after the British period ended, the historical place was covered with illegal structures. Almost five years ago, the government took up the project to recover the 304 acres of land and the city's largest rain retention basin. No doubt, the new appearance of the lake draws a large number of city dwellers. It brings hope for the people, since the area helps us forget the overcrowded city we see and experience every day. People have found a new place to congregate to have fun with friends and family, but, without proper maintenance and essential renovation to correct the inherent flaws of the project, this little respite is reverting back to the smelly garbage dump it once was.
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