Dhaka's canal water no longer flows into rivers

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Dhaka was once full of natural beauty, at the root of which were hundreds of canals crisscrossing the city, connected with Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Turag and Balu rivers flowing around the city. With the passage of time, most of the canals of this city have literally vanished into thin air. All the canals disappeared in the name of conventional development. The few that remain are also critically endangered.

In 2009, a 12-point directive was issued by the High Court to protect the four rivers Shitalakshya, Turag, Balu and Buriganga. In the directive, the court instructed to ensure free flow of waters in the canals of the capital city after freeing them from the hands of encroachers. So that the canal water flows into the river. The High Court asked to follow this directive quickly to solve the waterlogging of the capital. However, even in the last 15 years, the instructions of the High Court have not been implemented.

In the history of canals of Dhaka, 47 canals are mentioned. Kalyanpur main canal, Ibrahimpur, Agargaon, Shaorapara, Mohakhali, Begunbari, Gulshan, Banani, Katasur, Abdulsnahpur, Bauniabad, Rupnagar, Diabari, Shahjahanpur, Katasur, Ramchandrapur, Bais Deki, Hatirpool. , Paribagh, Rajabazar, Rayerbazar, Mohammadpur, Hazaribagh, Kamrangirchar, Gopibagh, Segunbagicha, Dholaikhal, Khilgaon, Basabo, Dhalpur, Manda, Panthpath, Ghazaria, Dakshingaon, Nandipara, Sutikhal, Badda, Gulshan, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi, Meradia and Ghazaria canals are among them. Most of these canals have disappeared.

Sharif Jamil, chief coordinator of Water Keepers Bangladesh and general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa), told Views Bangladesh, "There was a canal from Shahbagh to Moghbazar, its name is Paribagh Canal on the Dhaka WASA map. But there is no sign of the canal now. Similarly, Dholaikhal, Rayerbazar, Arambagh, Gopibagh, Segunbagicha, Kathalbagan, Narinda, and Dhanmondi (presently Panthapath Road) canals no longer exist. Adi Buriganga is one of the oldest canals in the capital. Basically, it is a part of Buriganga, which connects Buriganga with Dhaleswari and Turag.”

“That Adi (original) Buriganga has been lost due to encroachment and pollution. Such is the situation of Katasur and Ramchandrapur canals in Mohammadpur's Basila area. Not only these areas, the condition of all the canals in the capital Dhaka is the same. Many canals are now defunct. Most of those that exist are shrinking. Earlier the width of some of the canals was more than 150 feet. The connection of the river with the canal is now severed. The canal water no longer flows into the river. Waterlogging is increasing with the loss of canals,” he added.

The exact number of canals in the capital is not available. According to the report of Dhaka District Commissioner's office, the number of canals is 47. According to the calculation of the private research institute River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), there are 56 canals in Dhaka city, but all of them are dying. The total number of canals in Dhaka is mentioned as 43 in the Dhaka Detailed Area Plan (DAP). The Jatiya Nadi Rakkha Commission has prepared a detailed 57-page report on the canals of the capital Dhaka. The report contains all the information about the loss of the canal. The river protection commission has identified the existence of a total of 77 canals in Dhaka and its surrounding areas.

The RDRC has recently suggested digging several canals to alleviate waterlogging in the capital. Rupnagar Main Canal, Baunia Canal, Baishteki Canal, Journalist Colony Canal, Kalyanpur Canal, Ibrahimpur Canal, Panthpath Box Culvert Canal, Rayerbazar Canal, Jirani Canal, South end of Rampura Canal, Dolai Canal, Kadmatoli Canal and Manda Canal are among them. The study identified nine waterlogging 'hotspots': Pallabi Sialbari, Rupnagar and Eastern Housing; Kalshi and Mirpur 11; Tolarbagh, Ahmednagar and Paikpara; Sheorapara, Kazipara and Kafrul; Kala Bagan, Dhanmondi 27, Kathal Bagan, Green Road and Hatirpul, Hazaribagh, Nawabganj, Rayerbazar, West Dhanmondi and Dhaka Newmarket; Rampura and Badda; Sutrapur, Wari, Nawabpur, Kazi Alauddin Road, Siddique Bazar, Narinda and Tatibazar and Jurain, Siddhirganj, Zaker Manzil, Shyampur, East Jurain, Saddam Market and Rayer Bagh.

Chairman of RDRC Mohammad Ejaz told Views Bangladesh, “Once there were 77 canals and lakes that could remove rainwater from Dhaka. Now most of them are partially or fully occupied. If the marked 15 canals can be dug, 80 percent of the city's waterlogging problem will be solved.”

Supreme Court lawyer and president of the environmental organisation Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh Manzill Murshed told Views Bangladesh, "Once upon a time, you could travel to different places inside the city through the canals of Dhaka. Due to natural reasons, in the later period, the transportation of goods and commercial expansion started in this area through waterways. But the canals through which steamers used to run at one time do not exist anymore.”

“The connection between the canal and the river is completely disconnected. The canal water no longer flows into the river. With the loss of canals there is increasing inundation, and loss of biodiversity. Our various short-sighted actions are responsible for this situation. Buildings, roads, bridges, culverts, flood control dams and drains have been constructed by filling canals,” he added.

The lawyer said, “Some canals of Dhaka have been filled up directly in front of everyone's eyes and some have been gradually filled up by dumping garbage. However, most of the canals have been occupied with the cooperation of Dhaka Wasa.”

Environment and climate change adviser to interim government Syeda Rizwana Hasan told Views Bangladesh, "The government is planning to make a 'blue network' through the canals of Dhaka. The canals that are still salvageable will be recovered to create this network.

She said that RAJUK will have to conduct operations every week to rescue the illegally occupied canals of Dhaka. As per the proposal of DAP, the issue of creating this blue network is being progressed. This network will be established by combining reservoirs and waterways.

“The RAJUK will have to conduct operations every week to rescue illegally occupied canals. No injustice can be justified. If necessary, operations should be increased to rescue illegal canals,” she added.

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Part 2
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Part 3

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Part 4
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