Waste dumping and poor safety measures made the city’s
Hatirjheel- Begunbari twin lake unsafe to visitors.
The twin lake, separated by the Tongi Diversion Road, was hastily opened to public six months ago even before the development plans around it could be completed.Indiscriminate waste dumping is spoiling what could the city’s beauty spot, said visitors.
Lack of maintenance and unruly activities by goons made the twin lake unsafe to visitors.
Only recently, the twin lake was drawing hundreds of visitors in the city lacking places for recreation.
But the atmosphere around the twin lake deteriorated pretty quickly, said housewife Farhana Kaiser.
Due to lack of maintenance the twin lake’s water now stinks, she told New Age.
Illegal parking of vehicles here and there and some people playing cards and carom also discourage visitors, she said.
To spoil the atmosphere further tin-shed toilets sprang up here and there, she said.
Those living at Dilu Road or other adjacent neighbourhoods cannot open windows due to bad smell from the lake.
The problem aggravates when it rains, she said.
Those living at New Eskaton stopped taking strolls by the lakeside lanes due to stinking water.
Pedestrians avoid the footpath passing by Sonargaon Hotel due the same reason.
Even those travelling by buses smell the stink from the Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue.
Pedestrians usually avoid visiting the twin lake as goons freely roam around it, banker Faisal Shovon said.
Toilets near the Moghbazar Rail Crossing, sand and sludge, make shift carom playing shelters spoiled the looks and the atmosphere around the lake, he said.
During the day time the lakeside road is blocked due to illegal parking of vehicles and at night the area is overtaken by goons, he said.
Wastes from the households, kitchen markets, sewer and rejected pillows are drained into the lake water, said the consultant of the lake development project and BUET professor Mujibur Rahman.
He said that this happens due to the city’s faulty sewerage system.
‘There would be no option but to discontinue the sanitation line from Panthapath, Mohakhali box culvert and Moghbazar outlet to improve the situation, he said.
Poor and irresponsible waste management by Dhaka North and South City Corporations was spoiling and degrading the city’s remaining lakes and water bodies, he said.
He said that solid wastes, food packets, polythene, dead cows, chicken and goats blocked the mechanical screen set up near Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel to prevent solid wastes getting into to the lake water.
This city cannot expect a better lake, he said.
But its water has been spoilt by sewer lines indiscriminate waste dumping, said Mujib.
Rampura resident Mustafizur Rahman said that the planned improvement of traffic congestion remained elusive for areas like Merul Badda, Tejgaon Link Road, Moghbazar and Rampura.
He said that lack of enforcement made a mockery of the plan to keep heavy vehicles out of the lake roads meant for light transports.
Mustafizur said that the authorities were indifferent to deploying security patrols to ensure safety and security of the visitors.
Rajuk superintending engineer and project director A SM Raihanul Ferdous said that there was a plan to press light coasters in the project area to take visitors around.
He, however, said that the main objectives of the project had been achieved by improving the drainage system, connecting the eastern and the western parts of the city.
The walkways and roads around the twin lake improved communication and reduced traffic jams at Moghbazar, Madhubagh, Ulan, Mohanagar, Daserpara, Rampura, Merul Badda, Gulshan, Tejgaon and Begunbari, he said.
He said monitoring and maintenance by a management authority would cost Tk 48 crore 12 lakh for five years, he said.
He also said that Rajuk would earn revenue from toll collection, vehicle stickers, water taxi, parking fees, bike rent, circular bus, floating restaurant, kids zone, boat club and rope way.
The project is under joint implementation by Rajuk, 16 Engineering Construction Battalion of Bangladesh Army, Dhaka WASA and Local Government Engineering Department while BUET provided the consultancy service.
-With New Age input
