“Experiencing the rain with a cup of coffee in a cozy evening is fascinating, but the consequences hit hard when the clogged drainage systems of the megacities flood the city allies. My enjoyment from the urban rain reduced this morning, watching this flooded road of my house, I wanted to go to bank for emergency transactions, but now, I have to find the alternatives from home. Even, cannot go to office! Deadlines screaming ahead! Don know whats gonna happen!!" said Mrs Farihin, an urban dweller residing in Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The misery expressed in those lines adding clogged highways, motionless automobiles on the streets serve as a stark reminder that, in spite of tremendous technological progress, nature demonstrate the incapability of human advancement. The cities ardent desire to reach the sky, is often satiated by tall buildings to the point, where green and blue networks are superseded by grey concrete in order to make way for progress.
While the Padma Bridge, the Bangabandhu tunnel, and the metro-rail promote the countrys dream at large, the waterlogged roads following a monsoon rainfall claim poor infrastructure management and disorganized urban planning. Even after saturating with modern conveniences, population overgrowth, random construction, poor drainage systems, reduction of natural landscape, the removal of green and blue structures, poor waste management, lack of public awareness can be blamed for the circumstances. Waterlogging imposes a significant burden on city dwellers, creating negative physical, social, economic, and environmental effects interfering with daily living as well as damaging infrastructures.
The water logging in urban region impacts the transportation, electricity, and communication, infrastructural and collateral damages and challenges the normal rhythm of livelihood in multispectral ways. Moreover, the contaminated flood water, mixed with sewerage, garbage, and other pollutants, increases the risk of waterborne diseases for the citizens and hampers and reduces quality of life.
Dhaka, reigning as a megacity in a lower-middle-income country, a densely populated Southeast Asian regional city, has formulated policy and planning such as the Detailed Area Plan 2016-2035 and the Dhaka Structure Plan 2016-2035 to tackle the consequences of urbanization. This plan has incorporated environmental preservation and enhancement, proper management and regulation of different sectors, proper maintenance of infrastructure, etc. to combat the drawbacks of urbanization.
The effectiveness and progression of the planning is questionable, standing on 7th year after the structural plan as the city still encounters urban flooding after the monsoon rain in some portion of cities. Several initiatives have been implemented through these 7 years, yet, is this enough? Is it enough for Mrs. Farihin, mentioned at the beginning, to enjoy the rain and forgetting about the clogged roads with rain-sewerage water?!
Additionally, this concerning state requires more intervention both from government and private sector for implementing the Vision 41 initiative. Moreover, rising as a developing country on the world map, this country thrives on collaborative participation and initiatives from person to population to overcome the shortage of resources and establish quality of life for every citizen.
The escapement requires individual, collective, and multi-sectoral involvement. Hence, this flooded allies can be triumph card for political parties to ensure stress-free urbanization. It is no far that the villages of Bangladesh will dream of modern amenities and urbanization in near future. The political allies can think of incorporation of this agenda in their planning and election slogan to ensure safe roads in rainy seasons for the urban population. They can also avail the opportunity to raise public awareness, community preparedness through their electoral manifesto.
On account to that, climate preservation approaches, waste management practices, and greenery cultivation can be cherished on individual terms. Improvement of drainage systems, sustainable urban planning with green and flood-resilient infrastructure, and early preparedness incorporating climate change adaptation, policy advocacy, and implementation can be approached to battle urban flooding. Incorporating flood-resilient roads and buildings, elevated structures, minimizing impervious surfaces, tree plantations alongside the roads, etc. can decrease the sufferings of the hampered population due to flooding.
Nevertheless, authoritative approaches for mitigating the sufferings of flooded areas incorporating policies, planning, and international and national collaboration can strengthen urban resilience against water congestion. More research and attention should be required for identification, planning, and implementation of sustainable urbanization.
The monsoon rain beholds and cherishes the sensation of purity and freshness with the escapement to calmness from reality, the feelings cease with the consequences of urban flooding and turn into a nightmare. A rainy day can be dreamt of as one where the pleasure of rain won be suppressed by the horror of thinking the consequences of urban flooding, as, every urban citizen, Mrs. Farihin wants to enjoy the cup of coffee on rainy days with emotions, perceptions, and without distraction!
The writers are Dr Maliha Khan Majlish, Senior Technical & Development Officer and Md Shamim Hayder Talukder, Chief Executive Officer of the Eminence Associates for Social Development
