Cities still reel from rains

We understand the exceptionality of the deluge and that the government has no control over the weather. Nevertheless, the devastating impact, first of the floods in July, and now of the downpour that paralysed Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Comilla, and a half dozen other cities, is a salutary reminder of the severity of the problem, and the necessity for the government to take counteractive measures on a priority basis.

The single biggest culprit when it comes to the flooding of the cities is not the rains as much as it is our short-sighted city planners. The years have seen canals, ponds, and water bodies of all description being filled in and built upon. The fact that the natural drainage channels of the cities have been thus decimated is the root cause of urban flooding. It is the reckless and often unlawful allocation or even seizure of land for construction that has brought us to the present untenable situation.

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We have been aware of the need for accommodating an expanding urban population for decades, and huge amounts of money have been spent on planning for such a contingency. But the question is, what do we have to show for it except for nightmarishly congested cities that live at the mercy of the elements?

What will it take for our city planners and the other relevant authorities to understand the gravity of the situation and to stop cutting corners and turning a blind eye to the problem? All it has taken to expose our limitations is a few days of heavy rain. The government must be prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure that our cities are able to withstand the pressures of prolonged rainfall. Is a little foresight when it comes to urban planning too much to ask for?