Key Highlights:
- Since independence, Dhaka has seen a decline in its canal count from 57 to 26
- Dhaka city has lost a combined length of 120km or 307 hectares of canals
- DNCC officials have launched a Tk27 crore project to demarcate the city’s canals
On 12 July, heavy rains inundated at least 22 areas in the capital, causing hardship for residents and commuters. Even after 36 hours, several locations remained submerged. Despite numerous initiatives in recent years, waterlogging continues to be a significant and persistent issue.
Since independence, Dhaka has seen a decline in its canal count from 57 to 26, many of which are in a quaggy state. On December 31, 2020, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) transferred control of drainage systems encompassing 26 canals and 385 kilometers of main drain lines to city corporations.
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The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) received 21 canals, while the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) received 5. Despite this transfer, significant improvements in the water bodies have yet to materialize. Currently, the city boasts a drainage network spanning 2,211 kilometers, with 961 kilometers in the south and 1,250 kilometers in the north.
Over the past four years, DNCC and DSCC have collectively allocated Tk 370 crore and Tk 360 crore respectively towards these efforts.
In a 2010 report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment and Forests, it was highlighted that 50 canals in Dhaka had significantly reduced or vanished, primarily due to unauthorized landfilling, encroachments, illegal constructions, slum expansion, solid waste dumping, and inadequate maintenance of box culverts.
Major Canals of DNCC
- Katasur and Ramchandrapur canals in Mohammadpur
- Kalyanpur main canal and five other Kalyanpur canals in Mirpur
- Rupnagar main canal and several branches in Pallabi
- Diabari and Abdullahpur canals in Uttara
- Ibrahimpur canal in Cantonment
- Mohakhali canal in Ramna
- Shahjadpur and other canals in Gulshan
- Begunbari and Narai canals in Demra and Sabujbagh.
Major Canals of DSCC
- Jirani Canal
- Manda Canal
- Shyampur Canal
- Kalunagar Canal
City Canals Choke on Waste as Wetlands Vanish
The recurring clogging of city canals due to continuous solid waste dumping and untreated sewage discharge, compounded by inadequate monitoring, remains a pressing issue. Experts unequivocally attribute the loss of wetlands and canals in and around Dhaka City, which disrupts the natural drainage system, as the primary cause of worsening waterlogging.
According to a 2015 World Bank report, the estimated economic damage from waterlogging in Dhaka from 2014 to 2050 could amount to Taka 11,000 crore, increasing to Taka 13,900 crore when factoring in more intense rainfall due to climate change. In September 2010, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) estimated that waterlogging cost the garment industry alone Taka 632 crore.
This issue disproportionately affects the poorest, who often lack alternative shelter and endure severe hardships as a result.
Economic Impact of Waterlogging in Dhaka
According to a 2015 World Bank report and DWASA estimates:
- Total Economic Damage (2014-2050):
- Without Climate Change: Taka 11,000 crore
- With Climate Change (more intense rainfall): Taka 13,900 crore
120km of Canals Lost to Urban Sprawl
Dhaka city has lost a combined length of 120km or 307 hectares of canals, which could have served as waterways and vital drainage systems, due to encroachment, unplanned urbanization, and lack of maintenance. Over the decades, successive governments have excavated 10 major canals and 4 new lakes in the city. Dhaka is bordered by the Turag River to the north and northwest, the Buriganga River to the south and southwest, and the Balu River to the east.
According to the Cadastral Survey, canals and river channels once occupied 565 hectares of land in the city, but 55% of that area is now lost. Of the 307 hectares lost, 33.75% is occupied by various structures, 18.92% by farmland, 16.94% by streets, and the remaining areas have either been filled in or become wetlands with no water flow.
Buildings have been constructed over former canals in Mohammadpur, Hazaribagh, and Kamrangir Char. Major canals like Dholai Khal and Mohakhali Khal are in poor condition due to encroachment.
Despite this, canals such as Hazaribagh Khal, Katasur Khal, Ramchandrapur Khal, Amaiya Khal, Atir Khal, Bailjuri Khal, Bhaturia Khal, Dhalpur Khal, Dholai Khal, Gobindapur Khal, Gopibagh Khal, Haikkar Khal, Lawtola Khal, Nasirabad-Nandi Para Khal, Rampura Khal, and Rayerbazar Khal have each lost around 2 hectares of land.
Begunbari Khal, Ramchandrapur Khal, Dholai Khal, and Rampura Khal have each shortened by over 3 km.
Dhaka’s Lost Canals and Waterways
- Total length of canals lost: 120 km
- Total area lost: 307 hectares
Breakdown of Land Use on Lost Areas:
- Structures: 33.75% (103.58 hectares)
- Farmland: 18.92% (58.10 hectares)
- Streets: 16.94% (52.02 hectares)
- Other: 30.39% (93.30 hectares)
The Unenforced Solutions to Dhaka’s Rising Water Crisis
To resolve waterlogging issues, it is crucial to maintain a clear drainage network. Environmental experts point out that the primary cause of flooding in Dhaka is the production and use of polythene and plastic, which are extremely harmful to the environment.
The government doesn’t need to create new laws to combat the polythene problem; it only needs to enforce the existing 2002 ban on polythene shopping bags.
The waste management departments are already burdened with managing 150,000 to 200,000 tons of municipal solid waste each month and sweeping hundreds of kilometers of streets daily. They have limited capacity to clean surface drains and lack the organizational strength and technology to do so effectively.
While land grabbers may be powerful, they are few in number. The interests of the majority should take precedence over those of a few unscrupulous realtors. Rajuk has already taken steps to recover wetlands and retention areas seized by these realtors, and the High Court has issued commendable rulings on this matter. The Hatirjheel Integrated Project, for example, reclaimed 304 acres of land from powerful individuals.
What Is DNCC Planning for Canal Restoration?
DNCC officials have launched a Tk27 crore project to demarcate the city’s canals. According to a written statement from DNCC on February 12, 2024, the city corporation plans to install 1,910 boundary pillars around 29 canals and one retention pond. However, in the past three years, only 858 pillars have been set up.
Furthermore, demarcation pillars have not been installed on the Mohakhali Khal, Kallyanpur Gha Khal, Rupnagar Duaripara Khal, Uttara Diabari Khal, Shahjadpur Khal, and Koshaibari Khal.
DNCC has not yet initiated a major drive to evict illegal occupants and remove unauthorized structures from the canals under its jurisdiction. Nonetheless, clean-up operations have been conducted in parts of the Baisteki, Sutibhola, and Samudra canals.
In addition to the clean-up efforts, DNCC officials are also installing drainage lines in waterlogging-prone areas, such as Kalshi, Uttara, and Badda.
DNCC Canal Demarcation Project
- Total Project Cost: Tk27 crore
- Canals and Retention Pond: 29 canals + 1 retention pond
- Planned Boundary Pillars: 1,910
- Pillars Installed (Past 3 Years): 858
DSCC to Launch Mammoth Clean-up Project
Meanwhile, the DSCC has launched an ambitious Tk 898 crore project to revitalize 19.6 kilometers of four canals: Manda, Jirani, Kalunagar, and Shyampur.
However, significant work has yet to begin. Officials report ongoing efforts to clear silt and sludge from Panthapath Khal, Dogair Khal, Dholaikhal, Basabo Kadamtala Khal, Kajla Khal, Mridha Bari Khal, Titas Khal, Zia Sarani Khal, Bornomala Khal, and Sukorshi Khal.
Dhaka’s waterlogging woes are a stark reminder of the price of unchecked urban development. From vanishing canals to clogged drains, the city’s water crisis is a ticking time bomb with economic and environmental consequences. While ambitious restoration projects offer a glimmer of hope, the real solution lies in a delicate balance of enforcement, innovation, and civic responsibility.
As Dhaka stands at the crossroads of progress and preservation, the question remains: Will the City of Mosques rise above the floods, or will it continue to sink under the weight of its growth?
