DSCC mayor, MP hear local problems

It was an unusual opportunity for the residents of Ward 6 of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) yesterday. Their elected representatives appeared before them to listen to the local problems.

During the meeting, people highlighted the problems of sewerage overflow, mosquito menace, stray dogs, water-logging, narrow lanes, shortage of street lights, dilapidated roads and playgrounds.

The representatives heard them patiently and assured them of trying their best to resolve some of the chronic problems.

The DSCC mayor and the local lawmaker instantly gave directives to the division concerned of DSCC to resolve some problems including controlling of mosquitoes and installing of street lights within 72 hours. 

DSCC organised a programme titled "Jonotar Mukhomukhi Jonoprotinidhi" at Mugda Bazar under Ward 6. Mayor Sayeed Khokon, local lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury, and Ward 6 councillor Kamrul Islam were present there. On the occasion, inhabitants of the area blamed representatives for failing to address their problems. In some cases, they assured the residents of improving the roads and taking effective measures in controlling rabies and reducing the dog population.

But in some cases, the mayor blamed the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) for water-logging and called for bringing Wasa and Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) under the jurisdiction of the city corporations to get rid of the problem.

He also pointed out lack of coordination among different service-providing agencies of the city as a barrier in providing better services to people.

Khokon urged people to pitch in to keep the city clean while Saber Hossain sought help to control drug problems and help law enforcers nab drug peddlers.

About widening narrow lanes and roads, Saber urged owners of the roadside houses to sacrifice some space for roads. Responding to a query about the shortage of street lights, the mayor assured that all the lights would be installed within 72 hours and 50 percent of the water-logging problem would be gone by the coming monsoon.

The lawmaker pointed out corruption in buying larvicide to kill mosquitoes and blamed the syndicate of construction firms for delaying construction works.