Over 50 canals near death

Govt’s bid to recover 26 canals from grabbers shows little success
Although over 50 affluent canals once used to flow through the capital and added to its lifeline, most of the water channels have been fully or partially choked, while the rest are under serious threat thanks to unabated encroachment.
The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) had earlier taken initiatives in line with a decision of the last caretaker government to recover 26 out of 43 canals from encroachers.
However, the initiatives have so far yielded very little success. Besides, once the recovery drive is over, many of the canals again get encroached due to lack of excavation, proper demarcation and monitoring, experts say.
A list of 43 canals was prepared by a committee formed in 2004 to come forward with recommendations to identify, recover and reopen the canals. The committee identified 26 canals under Wasa as recoverable, says an official.
The 26 canals are Kalyanpur main canal, Kalyanpur Ka, Kha, Gha, Uma and Cha canals, Katasur, Ramchandpur, Abdullahpur, Diyabari, Digun, Gulshan-Banani, Mohakhali, Hazaribagh, Begunbari, Khilgaon-Basabo, Manda, Sutivola, Badda-Shahjadpur, Rupnagar, Baisteki, Kalshi, Bouniya, Ibrahimpur canals, Housing canal in Mirpur-14 and Jirani canal.
The other canals on the list which are not under Wasa are Char Kamrangir Khal, Begunbari-Meradiya-Gajariya, Dakkhingaon-Nandipara, Rajarbagh-Nandipara, Nasirabad-Nandipara, Nandipara-Trimohoni and Boufar (Boualiya) canals.
The Institute of Water Modelling (IWM), which prepared a map of drainage canals of Dhaka city in 2007-2008, mentions 50 canals in the city. Five additional canals that IWM lists are Kuril-Boaliya, Khilkhet Boaliya, Koshaibari-Boaliya, Boaliya-Bowfar, and Kashibari-Uttara Railway Boropit canals.
It was evident from onsite visits that the last remaining canals are still under threat of encroachment. The canals, which are kept open and being maintained by Wasa, are also being narrowed down at different places.
Kutub Khali Khal
The condition of the Kutub Khali canal in Jatrabari is extremely bad as it has been grabbed at different points continuously and residents also dump waste into it.
As waste management is not being run properly people of the area dump their everyday waste into the canal making the situation even worse, says Mamun, a resident of Kutub Khali.
The canal was earlier four to five times wider but now has become just like a drain, he adds.
It had a connection with the Buriganga at Sadarghat, says Sohel Rana, another resident of the area.
Residents in the area are victims of frequent waterlogging just after light shower as the canal’s Buriganga link has been blocked in Dholaipar Bazar, he adds.
Ibrahimpur Khal
Wasa demolished illegal structures on Ibrahimpur canal last year only to let it be reoccupied by encroachers at different spots.
Locals say the demolished concrete structures have been raised again on the canal.
Wasa put a warning notice against encroachment and garbage dumping into the canal to no avail, as a one-storey workshop was constructed on the canal just 15 feet away from the notice plaque.
One multi-storey building, which was dismantled last year near Ibrahimpur Poolpar, has recently been rebuilt.
The demolished structures are being rebuilt right after holding of the last general elections, says a local resident.
Baisteki Khal
One-thirds of Baisteki canal in Mirpur-11 could be saved from the clutches of encroachers thanks to demarcation and protection of its banks, but the rest is still occupied at different places.
The width of the canal is narrowed down to one-thirds of what it was a few years ago, recalls Abdul Awal, a resident of Palash Nagar.
Clean water used to flow through the canal around 12 years ago, but now it has turned into a canal of effluent, says Md Siraj, a resident of Lalmatia under section-11.
Jirani Khal
Around 11 roads from Mugda to Madartek Nandipara crossed this canal narrowing it down to a shrinking water channel, say residents of Madartek.
Of the roads, only three have culverts on the crossing points, while the rest were constructed right over the canals keeping pipes underneath for water flow.
Jalil, a Wasa worker tasked with cleaning the canal passages, says the 18-inch pipe which was set up at the crossing points of the roads should be replaced by culverts to maintain water flow as the existing pipes are not sufficient.
The pipes become clogged within a week of cleaning, hindering normal water flow of the canal, which has a link with the Balu river, says Md Monir, a resident of Hindupara in Madartek.
Shajahanpur Khal
Once Shajahanpur canal had a link with Hatirjheel-Begunbari canal and Ramna lake, says Jamil, a resident of Gulbagh.
The links were blocked in Gulbagh and near Khidma Hospital in Khilgaon, he adds.
The canal has still a link with the Balu, which now carries only wastewater, he says, adding rampant encroachment narrowed down the channel.
Baunia Khal
Once the name of the Baunia canal was “Kahor Doriya” [huge waterway], as it was wide like a river. But now it has been reduced and falling prey to illegal grabbing.
Around 50 signboards, claiming ownership of canal land, can be seen on the water in Palash Nagar in Mirpur-11 and earth-filling is going on at many points.
Mohakhali Khal
Mohakhali canal, flowing from Shahinbagh Railway culvert to Begunbari canal through Niketan project, also has been encroached at different places.
A Wasa drainage circle official says they have already started canal recovery drive and will gradually bring all the 26 canals under it.

Courtesy of The Daily Star