The Khilgaon-Basabo canal in the capital has long remained uncared for and is facing partial grabbing owing to poor maintenance by the authorities concerned.
Though Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority officials claimed that there was no illegal occupants of the canal, residents of surrounding areas blamed DWASA for their negligence in its maintenance.
According to DWASA Canal Statistics of May 2013, the Khilgaon-Basabo canal is 2540 meter long and 9-18 metre wide.
It said at present there is no illegal occupant of the canal and it is active and flowing.
The report also said the canal development work is going on under a World Bank project. Already a u-channel and lining work in 750 meters of the canal have been completed.
During a visit to the Khilgaon area near Rapid Action Battalion 3 office, the canal was seen partially grabbed by some illegal occupants.
They have set up shanties, filling some parts of the canal, alleged a resident of Taltola, Saki Haque.
She recalled, ‘Once my grandfathers would fish in this canal, the water of which was crystal clear.’
Alim Chowdhury, another resident of Khilgaon Chowdhury Para, told New Age, ‘The canal is full of hyacinth as there is none to care it.’
He said as the canal is filthy and uncared for, people of different houses throw their household wastes into it and when it rains it becomes almost impossible to live in the area because of the bad odour emanating from the canal.
Now the canal is a mosquito breeding ground, he complained.
Seeking anonymity a DWASA superintending engineer told New Age that for some years DWASA and World Bank are jointly working to rehabilitate sections of the Khilgaon-Basabo, Abdullahpur, Shutivola, Shahjadpur, Baunia and Digun canals to improve storm water drainage in the city.
He said that the canal development work would take many years and there is little progress in this project.
Five years has already gone but there is no development of the Khilgaon-Basabo canal, he said.
The DWASA official also said ‘Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project’ costs $165.7 million which began in March 2009 and is expected to end by December 2013.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan joint secretary Sharif Jamil said that DWASA needed a coordinated plan to recover the existing city canals and water bodies.
He said that if these water bodies could be recovered from encroachment and pollution, the city people’s sufferings owing to water stagnation in rainy season would be lessened.
DWASA superintending engineer Md Zaki Mostafa Chowdhury said operation and monitoring wing of DWASA do regular cleaning work in this canal.
He said that the Khilgaon–Basabo canal among the existing canals of the city has flow of water.
-With New Age input
