DNCC, DSCC in charge of Dhaka canals, drainage from now on

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) has handed over the responsibility of Dhaka’s drainage system and canals to Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to eliminate waterlogging in Dhaka.

A memorandum of understanding between Wasa and the two city corporations was signed in this connection at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.

DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam expressed their commitment to deal with the canals properly in order to remove waterlogging from next rainy season.

Dhaka Wasa had been managing these 26 canals in the capital city since 1986, following a government order.

“The responsibility to remove waterlogging was handed over to the city corporations as mayors are capable and committed to do the job,” said Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative Minister Tajul Islam.

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He said all canals, that were encroached, will be recovered gradually to improve the drainage system in Dhaka.

He suggested the mayors would develop the recovered canals as recreational places for the city-dwellers.

“A project is undertaken to connect all the canals to each other to create an open water transport system as well as keep a facility of walkway and bicycle lane in the banks of the canals,” he added.

“We have already taken a crash program to clean canals and the box-culverts that will start from Saturday,” said DSCC Mayor Taposh.

“Waste will be removed from Manda canal, Jirani canal and Shyampur canal as well as Panthapath and Shegunbagicha box-culverts under the program within March,” he added.

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“If we can successfully remove waste from the three canals including Adi Buriganga Channel and Dholai canal box-culvert which would be a challenging task, then we will gradually remove waste from all the canals under DSCC within June,” he added.

Besides, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said: “We have already cleaned most canals inside DNCC area willingly so that waterlogging might reduce in the coming season.”

Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan said: “We tried several times to hand over the drainage department to the city corporations but it was not implemented. Now under the leadership of the LGRD minister and the newly elected mayors the deal is signed.”

Helaluddin Ahmad, senior secretary of Local Government Division presided over the signing ceremony.