According to WASA, we have just about the infrastructure that can drain or pump out a maximum of 50ml of rainwater at any given time. In light of the met office forecast of more rains to come, we do need a contingency mechanism to be able to cope with accumulated water beyond 50ml. In other words, more pumping devices are to be installed. Are we ready for the job?

The citizens have lived with water-logging for a long time. What is alarming this time around is the submergence of newer city areas. It is shocking to find that people have to wade through knee-deep water right through the road in front of the Jatiya Sangsad.

This heightened water-logging and submergence of city roads are due to a number of reasons. It is ascribable to the cumulative effect of bad planning by our city planners reflected in the filling in of many lakes and vital water bodies which had the dual capacity of both holding and flushing out rain water after allowing time for gradual drainage of the excess water. Worst of all, despite this yearly phenomenon there appears to be but little concern on the part of either the city corporation or other agencies responsible for addressing such vital issues of public interest.

Despite the endemic nature of water-logging and submergence of city roads and low lying areas it is our strong belief that, given the right level of sincerity and commitment on the part of the administration much of the suffering of the city-dwellers could be ameliorated.