Waterlogged for 70 days

It started around 70 days ago. Due to heavy rainfall, almost a third of Khulna city went underwater, including the low-lying Bastuhara colony area. But while the rest of the city has since recovered, the water is yet to drain out of Bastuhara.

As a result, around 10,000 residents of the area have been suffering endlessly.

Visiting the area recently, this correspondent found almost all the roads underwater. Many were forced to stay indoors, with women and children being the worst sufferers. Residents were seen using bricks to prevent filthy water from flowing into their homes.

Rickshaw-pullers were seen dropping passengers outside the colony to avoid the water, leaving the residents to wade through the ankle-deep pool.

Although most shops remained open, customers were sparse.

At this point, even a brief shower waterlogs the area all over again, locals said. Despite repeated promises by public representatives, no initiative has been taken to resolve the issue, they alleged.

Abdur Rob, a stationery shopkeeper and resident of the colony, described to The Daily Star how unbearable it has become to live there, not just because of the waterlogging, but also the additional troubles it brings, like mosquitoes, snakes, and water-borne insects.

He pointed at some influential quarters for the disaster. "They have built illegal establishments occupying land on both sides of the nearby Bastuhara canal, the main source of discharging water from Bastuhara, Khalishpur, and Boyra," Rob alleged.

"Besides, lack of proper maintenance and mindless dumping of garbage is gradually filling up the 40 to 50 feet wide canal," he added.

Another element of concern is the ongoing road construction in the area, especially since the roads are higher than the households, which means water is spilling over into the houses,

said Anjuman Ara Lucky a resident, of the colony's road no 5.

 "The floor inside my house has remained flooded since July 15. We are forced to keep all our perishable valuables, including our stove, on the bed," she said. "Our two children can't even go outside to play or walk."

Yunus Ali, a resident of road-11, told The Daily Star, "It's inhuman that no one from any government agency or Khulna City Corporation are taking any action to remedy the situation. Small traders and hawkers of the area cannot store their belongings at home as the floors have been under water for months."

Contacted, Md Mahafuzur Rahman, councillor of Ward-9, said the colony is situated in a low-lying area, where sewers are narrow. Rainwater moves towards the colony from adjacent areas, he added.

"The city corporation is trying to drain out water to clean drains," he added.

Contacted, Md Abdul Aziz, chief conservancy officer of KCC, said they have assigned cleaning staffers of the city corporation to drain the water after any downpour, but due to its location in a low-lying area, this proves to be a difficult task.

He also shifted part of the blame on to the residents. "They always dump garbage in the sewers, clogging them," he said.

Md Aminul Islam Munna, panel mayor-1 of KCC, told The Daily Star that in order to improve the situation, a project worth Tk 843 crore has been undertaken to alleviate water logging and develop drainage system.

"Under the project, we have also started development works of 27 drains at a cost of Tk 65 crore," he said.