Residents of the low-lying areas in Sylhet city experience severe water-stagnation for poor drainage system even after a brief spell of heavy rainfall.
The city dwellers have claimed that the streets especially in the low-lying areas including Pathan Para, Jhalopara, Khujarkhola, Station Road, Lawai, Pirojpur, Barokhola, Mominkhola, Ganga Nagar, Bangabir Road, Kadamtali, Jatarpur, Kanishail, Munsipara and Dakshinbagbari go under the rain water causing immense sufferings to the pedestrians, commuters and office and school goers.
Authorities of different educational institutions in the city that include Habinandi Government Primary School, Kadamtali Government Primary School, Nasiba Khatun Girls High school on the Station Road, Kayastarail High School, South Surma High School, Jhalopara Primary School and Kazal Shah Primary School have alleged that they face serious problem as the rainwater remains stagnated at the institution compounds because of poor drainage systems.
The students and teachers of the institutions have to face severe difficulties in frequenting between their residences and educational institutions as the roads in low-lying areas in the city go under water eve after a brief shower, teachers and guardians have complained.
Abul Kalam, an assistant teacher of Habinandi Government Primary School, has told New Age that many of their students get wet as they have to make their way through the rainwater stagnated on the school premises.
Being contacted, Sylhet City Corporation in-charge mayor Mohammed Shahjahan expressed his unawareness of water-stagnation problem in the city.
‘Sufficient renovation works have been done in the city during the recent years to address the problem the residents suffer because of water-stagnation,’ he added.
SCC chief executive engineer Nur Azizur Rahman, however, claimed that water stagnation after heavy rainfall, especially in the low-lying areas in the city, was due to the drains being blocked with wastages, for which rain water cannot pass immediately.
‘People’s suffering from the water stagnation has reduced significantly in the recent years after drainage system in the city has been renovated,’ the SCC official said, adding that the rainwater that remains in the low-lying areas recedes within an hour after the rain stops.
-With New Age input
