Scattered waste dumping spots, damaged roads and alleys, stagnant water, manholes overflowing with sewage are some of the common nuisance the present day Gulshan resident has grown used to.

Infact cleanliness as become a serious concern following an initiative by locals who have assigned separate groups of people to operate garbage vans.

These vans collect the kitchen waste from houses at a fixed time of the day. However, as they do not work in a co-ordinated manner, waste is deposited at specific garbage dumps of the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) at different times throughout the day. The DCC's garbage trucks have a set time to retrieve the rubbish. That is why some waste can be found lying all day creating foul odour and an unhealthy environment.

"The teams that collect rubbish from houses are not authorised by the DCC. These are individual initiatives and the groups are collecting the garbage and dumping them in their own convenient time. This is creating a problem for us. If all waste is deposited at the same specified time, it becomes easier for us to clean up," said executive officer of DCC's Zone 9 Md Saiful Islam.

"We have already reduced the number of dumping spots after repeated complaints of stink from local residents. They have also agreed to deposit their wastes at the specified locations. Now there are just four or five such spots around Gulshan and life is becoming better," claimed Islam.

Islam added that it was not possible for the DCC alone to collect rubbish from every household and because of that a co-ordinated and systematic approach from the residents was needed.

"Garbage van owners said that most people did not allow them to collect rubbish after 6:00 pm because of security concerns. This is the main reason for the problem with the time of waste dumping. We are yet to find a solution for this."

The conditions of roads in the area have deteriorated to an alarming extent in recent times. There are cracks and gaping holes on streets and rain or flood water get stored in them. Stagnant water is ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and mosquito menace is a common complaint here.

Long traffic snarl-ups have also become a regular feature due to the state of the roads.

"A tender of Tk 10 crore of work has already been floated. The carpeting of these streets will start on completion of certain formalities. The western part of Gulshan Avenue is more or less okay. It is only the flood-affected areas in the east that need renovation. We will start work as soon as the Nagar Bhaban committee gives its approval," said Islam.

Regarding the overflowing of manholes, Islam said that Rajuk had built the drainage system long ago and then handed the responsibility over to the DCC. According to him, Rajuk made drain outlets that ran straight into the Gulshan Lake for which the waterbody is being polluted.Also indiscriminate dumping of rubbish in drains has suspended the normal flow of sewage.

"Now WASA's sewage lines are overflowing and the DCC can dovery little about it unless WASA looks into the matter. The lines have either been blocked or the drains cannot take the pressure of so much sewage. This has resulted in continuous leakage of manholes," said Islam.

Living in an apartment overlooking the lake could be a dream come true for many but there are residents in Gulshan who would beg to differ.

"Slum dwellers living across the lake cross over to the other side at will on boats. They often litter the walkway bordering the lake and frequently dump their garbage in the water. Besides, the sound of their engine boats create noise pollution," said Gulrukh Rahman whose house is just beside the Gulshan Lake.