Waterlogging makes life of hundreds miserable
Schoolchildren and women wade through muddy water at Kalibaripara in Gaibandha town as the backward area, lacking proper drainage system, sees persistent waterlogging for the last four months. Photo: STAR
Hundreds of people of Kalibaripara in ward No 7 under Gaibandha municipality are passing miserable days due to persistent waterlogging for the last four months. Lack of electricity, pure drinking water, and connecting road add to the sufferings of residents, who are mostly poor. In absence of proper drainage system, the area went under knee to waist deep water in the rainy season, forcing the residents to use banana tree rafts to get to the nearby road. Patients requiring urgent treatment suffer most. The stagnant water often serves as breeding ground for mosquitoes and the dirty water causes health hazard in the neighbourhood, making the locals suffer from diseases. "In the rainy season we could not attend most of the classes as we had to cross waist-deep water to go to school," said Sabuj Mia, a student of class five. After sunset the area plunges into darkness, as the residents are still dependent on kerosene lamp or hurricane due to lack of electricity supply. A few relatively solvent people drew temporary power lines from distant areas with the help of bamboo poles set at their own cost. Despite repeated appeals to the authorities, the problems have remained unheeded. "During elections the aspiring candidates come here and make commitment to solve local problems. But after the election they are no longer available and the situation remains as before," said Hakimuddin, a rickshaw puller. "We have taken plan to mitigate the sufferings of locals by solving the longstanding problems including water stagnation in the area. The situation will improve before the next rainy season," said Shamsul Alam, mayor of Gaibandha municipality.
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