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DCC Post-flood Measures

Clean-up needs more hands

Sabrina Karim Murshed
The Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) has begun its post flood clean up drive in some areas of the capital where water had receded.
The DCC is clearing silts, debris and garbage that had deposited in Gulshan, Baridhara, Motijheel, Fakirerpool, Naya Paltan, Gopibagh, Kamalapur and Arambagh so that the stagnant floodwater drains off the roads.
However, the air is still stinky in certain areas as sewage had mixed with floodwater. Some have taken up the cleansing responsibilities on themselves without waiting for the DCC as the stench became unbearable.
Around 100 students of Notre Dame College have been involved in washing and cleaning up the campus under its 'work programme'. However, the drains beside the playground are still clogged and foul odour oozes from there.
"We did not wait for anyone and cleared all filth from the pavements and parts of the main road in front of the college," said Lal Soren, maintenance in-charge of
the institution. Soren also informed that the college's authorities have initiated a lervicide spreading drive as mosquito menace increased in the area with the recession of floodwater.
A number of residents of Arambagh and Motijheel said that they got relief from stink and filth as the DCC cleaned up the roads immediately after the water receded.
The DCC began its special drive from last Tuesday (August 3) in an effort to clean the flood-affected areas and also to limit spread of diseases.
"We are using pay-loaders, dumpers and five auto electric machines to collect filth. We area also spreading bleaching powder to kill germs," said Shah Alam, deputy chief conservancy officer of DCC.
However, Alam acknowledged that the existing manpower is not sufficient for the DCC to conduct the cleaning drive at a faster pace.
The Corporation has 7,156 cleaners for its 82 wards. Everyday in each affected ward, 150 of them take part in the clean-up operation, which has increased their workload. Cleaners are brought from areas not hit by the flood and
from those that are still under water. The flood affecting the lives of around five million people has submerged 58 DCC wards.
"Each cleaner has to work overtime as tons of dirt and garbage is found with the recession of floodwater," said the deputy chief conservancy officer. "We are still managing the drive as most of the areas remain under water. We would definitely require extra manpower once we have to start cleaning those areas," he added.
Despite the DCC's effort, there are certain humanitarian problems that are creating inconvenience for residents. Flood-affected poor people have built makeshift canopies of bamboo and polythene sheets beside different roads near Gulshan circle 2 and are staying there, as they can not go back to their homes, which are still under water.
"It is hard for us to get back to normal life unless these destitute people are rehabilitated," said Faisal Abedin, a resident of Gulshan. He feared law and order might deteriorate in the area as many different types of people have taken shelter beside the roads.