One still vibrant, another wiped out

Once Dhaka was adorned with several hundred ponds. Like canals, only a handful exist now. But they are also in death throes due to negligence of the authorities concerned. Although, according to the Field, Open Space, Park and Natural Water Body Protection Act 2000, filling up of any water body including pond is illegal, it's going on unabated. The Daily Star found 63 ponds in the maps of undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in its 28 wards out of 90. A survey for the map was carried out between 2003 and 2011. But many of the water bodies were filled up before the period and also even after the survey. We are publishing the sixth report of the series today covering the then DCC ward-85, which is now ward-49 of the Dhaka South City Corporation.

The day was hot with an occasional glimpse of cirrus clouds. It was almost noon and the sun shone with all its might.

But that could not dampen the spirit of a group of youths who were swimming in a pond on a Sunday afternoon in April.

They were playing and laughing constantly in the water body. Soon, an infectious happiness spread throughout the area. Even the elderly locals grinned at them while passing by.

The youths were swimming in the Outfall Staff Quarter Pond in the capital's Dhalpur area.

Though this is a common sight in the villages where ponds are available, a water body stretching for around 3.76 acres uninterrupted under the open sky remains a rare sight in Dhaka.

The pond belongs to the Dhaka City Corporation, which has also constructed walkways around the pond some 10 years back and set up a grill-fence around it. The water body is also surrounded by various trees such as coconut.

DCC's Outfall Staff Quarter Pond remains an example of how a water body can be protected and enjoyed by all.

The area falls under Ward 85 (old) of the undivided Dhaka City Corporation, which is now Ward 49 of Dhaka South City Corporation. The 1.087 sq km ward comprises Brahman Chiran and Dhalpur areas.

Dhalpur Pond has been filled up to make way for a community centre. Photos: Rashed Shumon

Raju Ahmed, a resident of the staff quarter, said, “There was a makeshift ghat (landing spot) on the north side and a permanent one on the other side.”

To create a community atmosphere, the DCC removed a kitchen market and slums from near the pond area. Now the people of the community can relax by the pond area and enjoy their time with families and friends.

Raju said many people from nearby areas still swims in the water body. “The pond was full of fish. My friends and I spent so many days catching fish there,” he said.

Mohammad Yunus, another resident of the area, said the authorities concerned recently limited access to the pond to ensure people's safety.

This correspondent also spoke with some of the youths who were enjoying their time in the pond.

One of them, Jannatul Nafiz, a class-X student of a local school, said he and his friends often swim in the pond. Around 100 people swim there every day.

Another student, Akash Bepary, said, “I learnt swimming when I was six,” and jumped in the water body.

The pond area provides a much-needed breathing space for the people, said locals.

“Around a thousand people frequent the area everyday,” said Mohammad Yasin, an Ansar member. “Both men and women walk in groups around the pond in the morning and evening.”

He said the authorities of the DSCC staff quarter allow outsiders to visit the pond area from five to nine in the morning and from four in the afternoon till the Maghrib prayers for ensuring safety of the people of the area.

In addition, there is a signboard next to the pond, which says residents of the staff quarter can walk around the pond area from five to eight in the evening.

DHALPUR POND

There used to be another pond in the Dhalpur area known as Dhalpur Pond that has been lost to the maze of urbanisation.

The around 1.01 acre pond belonged to the DCC, which was turned into a community centre in 2001 under the initiative of a local ward commissioner, according to locals.

The DCC map, which was published after a survey carried out from February to April 2006, shows that there is only one pond in the area -- the Outfall Staff Quarter Pond. The map, however, does show the Dhalpur Community Centre.

The construction work started back in 1998 by filling up the water body, said Mohammad Manik, a resident of Dhalpur. “It took two years to destroy an important part of the neighbourhood and build a community centre there,” he said.

He said the pond was mostly used for fish cultivation. “There was also a canal in front of it, which pretty much shared the same fate as it was turned into a box culvert around the same time.”

Mohammad Jahangir, another resident of Dhalpur, said the pond was huge and deep. He said the water body existed since the Pakistan period.

Though a community centre is important, a pond is more essential as there is a scarcity of water bodies in the city, said an elderly resident of the area wishing anonymity.

(Edited by Hasan Meer)