Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh Thursday said that DSCC will start crash programme from Saturday to clean three canals and two box culverts to recover 20 kilometre canal by March this year.
On the other hand, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam has announced to demarcate the canal areas of DNCC and evict all illegal structures and build the riverbanks, plant trees and construct walkways.
"As the first day of the new year is on Friday, we will launch our primary crash programme on Saturday. We have decided to remove the solid waste of Zirani canal, Manda canal and Shyampur canal and Panthapath and Segunbagicha box culverts," said Mayor Taposh.
The mayors' comments came during the MoU signing ceremony between the two city corporations and Dwasa (Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority) at a city hotel as the two city corporations of Dhaka officially took charge from Dwasa to maintain 26 canals and 10km box culverts with an aim to solve the city's waterlogging problem.
Chief executive officers (CEO) of DSCC ABM Amin Ullah Nuri and DNCC Selim Reza and managing director of Dwasa Taqsem A Khan signed in the MoUs on behalf of their respective organisations.
Local Government Minister Tazul Islam was present as the chief guest.
Earlier, on November 26, local government ministry decided in principle to hand over the responsibility of the canals of the city to the two city corporations.
The ministry then formed a 14-member technical committee in this regard which was supposed to submit a report within 30 days. Following the recommendations of the committee and with the approval of the prime minister, Dwasa has handed over the canals and drainage system along with necessary manpower, equipment, technical know-how to the two city corporations.
"Before 1988, the canals of Dhaka were maintained by the Dhaka municipal corporation. The actual reason could not be known through which process those canals went to the Dwasa," Tazul Islam said.
Mayor Taposh mentioned that the deadline for cleaning the three canals and two box culverts has been fixed March-end this year. The length of the three canals is 20 km and the condition of the box culverts cannot be predicted until the work starts. If these canals and box culverts can be cleaned by March, the rest of the work for other canals will start by June next, he added.
Mayor Atiq said that everywhere there are concrete structures and there is no open space to recharge the ground water. The city corporation will demarcate the canal areas as per the city survey to prevent encroachment. Besides, measures will be taken to establish waterways by joining the canals.
Regarding the urbanisation at the eastern fringe of Dhaka, the DNCC mayor said that there are huge environmentally sensitive areas. Decisions should be taken by giving priority on environment. The canals at the eastern side of Dhaka should be free from encroachment, the carrying capacity of the canals must be increased, the banks should be built so that walkways can be constructed and blue network can be established.
"The proposed eastern bypass by the side of the Balu river should be constructed by following viaduct method to keep the joint of canals and river normal so that the water drainage system becomes easier. There will be water retention pond following the drainage master plan and water eco-park as mentioned in the detailed area plan to reduce waterlogging of Dhaka," Mr Atiq added.
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