Dhaka rivers on death throes

Yesterday was perhaps the umpteenth time that the state of the four rivers of Dhaka was the lead in this newspaper, and this is perhaps umpteenth time that we have editorialized on the issue. But regrettably, there has been little improvement in the situation; on the contrary we have witnessed with dismay the incremental worsening of the condition of these rivers, with the most damaging consequences on the capital itself.  

We are sure that the importance of the four rivers, to the survival of Dhaka city, is not lost upon those associated with the job of saving the rivers. But the incremental degradation in the condition of the rivers betrays the indifference of these agencies to this very important issue of the rivers. Lack of coordinated effort, lax oversight, faulty marking of the rivers etc., have contributed to reducing the rivers to the present moribund state.  It is unthinkable that drinking water for the city has to be fetched from far outside the Dhaka city not only because of the depletion of the ground water  but also because of the fact that the other source of water – the rivers, have become so polluted as to render their water unfit for treatment.  We find it hard to believe that the rivers have been demarcated in a faulty way that has allowed the land grabbers to encroach and grab part of the rivers.

A very recent World Bank sponsored international conference on options for development of Dhaka flagged the point of proper planning – a matter that we have also been harping on continually for the last decade. Regrettably, there is no shortage of plans, but those have stumbled in the face of petty corporate or group interest. The fate of the Dhaka Detailed Area Plan is an example.  

There must be a comprehensive plan for the development of the city that must include the four rivers also, and must be implemented resolutely.