Water as Leverage- Setting the scene for a call for action

Water as Leverage for Resilient Cities Asia Setting the Scene for a Call for Action Content
2.2.3
Living with Floods
Khulna is situated along the Rupsa River, which
tends to flood frequently during the wet season
or during high tides. Tidal floods occur almost
monthly during the wet season. Floods in rural areas
increase the pressure on informal settlements in
Khulna: 40% of the inhabitants of slums are flood
refugees.
Embankment of the
Rupsha river.
New Public Space
New commercial front
for informal settlement
The informal settlements are situated
throughout the entire city, from the southern
central area to the northern periphery. Although
in the census (2011) it is mentioned that 90%
of the households have access to electricity or
piped water provision, the data does not take
the informal settlements into account, which
house almost 30% of the city’s population.
These areas of the city are characterized
by high density and a lack of open spaces
between houses, as well as a lack of access to
healthcare, basic infrastructure and services.
Interestingly, the settlements follow the
historical growth pattern, in the sense that
houses often share a water body as common
space.
According to local experts, the informal
settlements are mostly situated on municipal
grounds in the proximity of the railway and
the waterfronts. Given the threats that go
with underperforming housing constructions,
sanitation and waste management, Khulna
wishes to alleviate poverty and spatial
inequality by upgrading the informal
settlements. Together with Khulna’s ambition
to densify urban areas, there is an opportunity
in relocating the slum population to districts
with better access to public facilities. However,
these plans seem to be impeded by the
fact that the areas of interest are generally
inhabited by landowners who might prevent
urban development on their land.
People in Khulna have learned how to live with
floods and are taking measures to reduce flood
risks. Along the main rivers of the city, the
embankments are fortified and raised to reduce
tidal cyclone floods. Maintenance projects are
set up for the lower-lying canals and rivers,
in order to remove elements that block the
water flow. This regards solid waste, natural
sediments, encroachments for other types of
land use, landfills and buildings. Unfortunately,
some drainage measures and embankment
fortifications increase land subsidence. Erosion
of the river banks, land subsidence, sea level
rise and failed flood protection projects (i.e.
embankments that increase land subsidence)
are also increasing the risk of flooding and
waterlogging.
Rain Water Discharge
Elevated embankment
Land subsidence
Water logging
Informal settlements by the waterfront.
206 KHULNA
Water Issues
PART 2/Background Information on the Partner Cities
207