Both city corporations believe that this year there will be relief from waterlogging, but experts have expressed worries about one recurring problem: lack of coordination between local government bodies.
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have approved a combined budget of over Tk 9,900 crore for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26, with substantial allocations for development and infrastructure.
Speaking to Dhaka Stream, Urban Planner of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Sanjida Haque said poor drainage system was one of the root causes of waterlogging, and we are working on it.
"I think the allocation of the budget for DNCC is enough to solve waterlogging problems. We ensure 24/7 surveillance. Our volunteer team and DNCC members are on high alert to monitor the major hotspots to solve the crisis," she said.
Urban experts, however, warn that the city's chronic waterlogging problems don't stem from one factor. Other issues, including encroachment of water bodies and clogging of drains, are also at play.
Urban planner and member of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Kazi Samiul Hoque, identified a lack of technical and strategic coordination among the authorities as a key problem.
"Every wing is aware of the issue and may have good individual plans, but there is no unified coordination," he said.
"For example, while the DNCC and DSCC clean the drains, authorities like WASA, DPDC, or other utility providers later dig those up again to install pipelines," he said.
This leaves roads in a state of disrepair with drains not working, leading to water accumulation.
He said without proper inter-wing coordination, it would be extremely difficult to tackle waterlogging or implement the master plan effectively.
Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Jahirul Islam told The Dhaka Stream that they were trying their best to tackle the issue.
"I have heard that those who provide utility services like WASA, DPDC, have installed some pipelines in drains, that's why water flow is being interrupted and water is being logged," Jahirul said.
Blocked canals, drains still to be tackled
In a report last July, the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), a non-government research organisation, boldly declared that, "Excavation of only 15 encroached canals could resolve approximately 80% of Dhaka's persistent waterlogging problem."
Urban Planner and Member of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Farhana Najneen, told The Dhaka Stream that people are not aware of the impact of waterlogging.
"In-depth research based on the wards of Dhaka city about waterlogging is necessary to solve the problem,'' she said.
"Our water bodies, like drains and canals, are being encroached; drains are clogged with solid waste," she said, echoing earlier findings.
But the city corporations expect to be able to deal with the clogging soon, with canal cleanup drives already underway.
Sanitation Inspector (Word No-36) of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Md Ashrafulzzaman told The Dhaka Stream that they were now capable of tackling the issue.
In this regard, Jahirul Islam, DSCC CEO, said, "We have excavated canals and consider this initiative very seriously as water has not flowed for a long time.
"In addition, wastages like polyethene, bags, tissue papers, and others are being dumped into the drain, which causes waterlogging problems and immense sufferings. The Drainage Circle Body has already taken a project to work on it," he added.
The Drainage Circle Body surveils all drains and goes to any spot where there is a clog.
Currently, Dhaka has a network of 2,211 kilometres of drains, with 961km in the south and 1,250km in the north.
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