Clean Dhaka on mind

With the Eid-ul-Azha celebration just a few days away, the two Dhaka city corporations are taking preparations to tackle the challenge of cleaning an additional 18,000 tonnes of waste to be generated from sacrificial animals to be slaughtered on the occasion.

Apart from specifying designated spots for slaughtering the animals, the corporations will use hotlines, apps and social media to receive complaints of untreated waste for expediting and easing the cleaning process that usually begins from the noon of Eid day.

Last year, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) faced criticism as blood mixed with drain water submerged many city roads somewhat dampening the mood of the festivity.

Considering that it might rain on Eid day (September 2), DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Thursday at a meeting called upon the city dwellers to slaughter the sacrificial animals at dry places and remain alert so that blood does not get mixed with stagnant water.

About 4.15 lakh sacrificial animals are estimated to be slaughtered in Dhaka. Last year the estimated figure was 3.6 lakh.

This year, DSCC fixed a total of 625 designated spots for slaughter of sacrificial animals while its northern counterpart has fixed 546 places.

There will be water tanks for cleaning and transportation facilities to carry meat home.

Since 2015, the city corporations are providing the facilities to speed up waste management, but few people responded to their initiatives.

The corporations could not force people to slaughter at the designated spots as it is a sensitive matter. They rather rely on campaigns to encourage people.

Locals, however, said they have seen little efforts at ward levels in this regard.

Makbul, a Jatrabari resident, said, “It's a good initiative. But rather than arranging grand political rallies, the councillors should spend time on campaigns to convince people to slaughter animals at designated spots.”

Skeptical of the corporations' promise of service, Akbar Ali, a Moghbazar resident, said, “Fearing hassle, neither my neighbours nor I went to the designated spots.”

Mamunur Rashid, who slaughtered a sacrificial animal at a designated spot last year, said, “If councillors and influential people set examples by slaughtering sacrificial animals at the designated spots, others will be encouraged to do so.”

Kazi Zahirul Islam Manik, councillor of Mirpur-10, said they will request people to slaughter animals on avenues instead of lanes. “We'll try to convince them by saying if they slaughter cattle on the avenues, we'll complete cleaning by 11:00am.”

He said if people slaughter sacrificial animals in front of their houses, it will take longer to clean up.

Wahidul Hasan Milton, councillor of a portion of Khilgaon area (south), said they have fixed three spots in the area where labourers will dump household cattle waste. “Additional 10-15 vans will be hired to speed up waste management.”

The councillor, however, is worried about waterlogging. “About 80 percent drains in my area are blocked as the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is carrying out its repairing works. So if it rains on Eid day, our efforts will go in vain.”

Mostaba Zaman, ward councillor of Shantinagar area, said drainage system has improved in his area recently.

“Earlier, it would take four to five hours for water to recede. Now it takes an hour. However, I will request residents through Imams during Juma prayers not to pour blood of sacrificial animals on road,” he said.

Taking to The Daily Star, DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore MA Razzak said they are planning to clean waste in the shortest possible time.

“We would request people to use our services at the designated spots and cooperate with us to clean the city,” he said.

“Also, we are asking people not to throw unused parts of the sacrificial animals here and there as those contribute to waterlogging and pollute the environment.”

He said people could complain over improper cleaning through the DNCC app -- “Nogor” or reach him directly through Viber and Whatsapp.

DSCC on the other hand opened a helpline -- 09611000999 -- for complaints over waste management during the Eid vacation.

DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer Commodore Shafiqul Alam said on the Eid day there will be an emergency response team who will rush to the spot for solving waterlogging.

“We're also distributing leaflets and requesting local Imams to encourage people to slaughter sacrificial animals at designated spots,” he added.