The government initiatives to save the existing canals from encroachment have fallen through for lack of proper excavation, demarcation and monitoring.
Though Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority took many initiatives to protect reclaimed canals from further encroachment, it has not yet been able to complete building walkways along the banks of all the 26 canals, environmentalists have alleged.
According to DWASA, there were at least 65 canals but in course of time the number has come down to 43. Among the 43 canals, some 20 canals are already dead as most of them have been filled up and the rests are under rampant encroachment.
DWASA in 2007 had taken steps to reclaim 26 out of 43 canals from illegal occupation by building walkways, U-channels and lining along the banks of the canals to permanently demarcate them, said DWASA officials.
One such canal, Ramchandrapur Canal, which flows down the Katasur area of Mohammadpur, has been grabbed for building a market.
Encroachers made a brick built wall in the canal by encroaching on the walkway and filling the canal with sand.
Nannu Miah, a resident of Nabaday Housing, has alleged that Ataur Rahman Dhali, a resident of Nabaday Hosing, has grabbed a part of the canal.
During a visit, it was seen that DWASA had out sludge from a part of the Mohakhali Canal while another part was seen fully filled up with garbage.
DWASA cleared some canals but kept the sludge just near the canals and residents of that areas complained that rain washes the sludge ultimately into the canals.
The Segunbagicha Canal, Devdholai Canal, Kosaibari Canal, Khilgaon-Basabo Canal and Rupnagar main canal were also facing partial encroachment.
The Rupnagar main canal has narrowed in some areas as there were many makeshift houses built on both sides of the canal.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan secretary general Abdul Matin said there were as many as 65 canals and four rivers in and around the city.
These canals and rivers were the natural drainage system, but many of them have been occupied, either partially or fully, and the authorities concerned lack proper excavation, demarcation and monitoring to save existing canals, he said.
Matin stressed coordinated efforts of all authorities concerned to save the existing canals as well as rives from encroachment and pollution.
He added that the National River Saving Task Force on September 2010 ordered the authorities concerned to free 26 canals in Dhaka from encroachment and remove all illegal structures on their banks.
Bangladesh Water Development Board Dhaka Circle superintending engineer of drainage Abdul Latif Miah said last year they reclaimed some canals but they were reoccupied by the grabbers.
He said only the canals of Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra embankment project areas were under the jurisdiction of the BWDB but during rainy season the DND area face water stagnation because of unplanned urbanisation and canal encroachment.
However, DWASA operation and monitoring engineer said that the DWASA cleared 23 canals before May this year.
Regarding Ramchandrapur Canal, DWASA superintending engineer Shahiduddin told New Age that they had filed a general diary with Adabar police station to save the canal from encroachment.
DWASA evicted Ataur Rahman Dhali a resident of Nabaday Hosing three months before for grabbing a part of the canal including walkway, he said.
DWASA and Dhaka deputy commissioner office jointly demarcated the canal land and later DWASA set up boundary pillar and walkway to protect the canal, said Shahiduddin.