Application of law is essential for rescue

The lifeline of Bangladesh is its rivers, canals, and reservoirs. Yet, there is deep concern about their future. On one hand, construction of dams by the Indian government beyond the borders in upstream areas has caused water crisis in our rivers. On the other hand, rampant encroachment of rivers, canals, and reservoir within the country without any regulation is disrupting natural water flow. Additionally, pollution from various industrial wastes is posing a threat to the biodiversity of rivers, canals, and reservoirs. As a result, many rivers, canals, and reservoir are disappearing from the map of the country."

An article published in a national daily yesterday (March 23) states that there is a canal named Manda located in Dhaka. However, local residents know it as the 'dead' canal. In this canal, there are places covered with algae, some parts are filled with water hyacinths, and in other areas, there are heaps of waste. Some portions are so densely covered that they resemble green fields. Due to the lack of waste removal for over a year and a half, water flow in this canal has ceased.

The situation is not only alarming in the Manda canal but also in the Zirani, Shyampur, and Kalunagar canals of Dhaka. During the rainy season, rainwater in a significant portion of Dhaka South City Corporation's area, including these four canals, turns into floods and eventually drains into the Balu River and the Buriganga River. For the beautification alongside pollution control of these four canals, Dhaka South City Corporation has undertaken a project worth 898 crore taka.

Approval for this project was given in October 2022, but the work has been stalled, awaiting completion by the city corporation. Consequently, for the past one and a half years, the work of waste removal from the four canals has been suspended. As a result, even last year, the capital city witnessed severe waterlogging at least six times due to heavy rains in various areas. Extensive waterlogging occurred in the capital city after dusk on September 21. Most of the main roads of Dhaka South City remain submerged for hours. On that day, numerous vehicles broke down on the roads.

There are several stages until rainwater flows through drains into rivers and streams. First, rainwater flows through catchpits (perforated covers over drains) into drains under the road. Many catch pits and drains have been blocked due to road and pavement renovation works under the City Corporation on various roads. Polythene, packets of chips, plastic bottles and various wastes and sand also clog the mouth of the drain. These drains should be cleaned regularly. There are questions about how efficiently the city corporation is doing the job.

Dhaka South City Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh had expressed the necessity of taking necessary steps to mitigate waterlogging during his election campaign. He has been serving as mayor for the past four years. He has provided various assurances regarding waterlogging mitigation at different times. For example, during an event in Old Dhaka on February 12 last year, he stated that even during heavy rains, drainage would occur within 15 minutes. However, after heavy rainfall last year, some roads in Dhaka remained submerged for hours.

Due to the pollution of rivers and canals, people will suffer in one way or another. Sewage waste in particular is very harmful to the human body. We have seen that despite having environmental laws in place, there is weakness in their proper enforcement when it comes to appropriate implementation. Because canal encroachment and polluting entities or individuals are politically and economically powerful, it is necessary for the government and relevant stakeholders to take proactive steps towards river, canal, and environmental protection. Otherwise, as much as the environment deteriorates, we too will suffer equally.