Annisul bemoans lack of power to deal with city problems

Despite being the city father, Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Annisul Huq on Saturday bemoaned that he has no authority to deal with its 80 per cent problems.
‘Some 80 per cent of the problems are not under my purview to solve those. Traffic jam, water-logging, taking off billboards are not my issues. My jobs are officially to oversee the problems relating to parks, streetlights and waste management only,’ he said.
The DNCC mayor came up with the remarks while addressing a views-exchange meeting with editors of the print and online media at a city hotel.
Citing different initiatives and plans of DNCC to solve the nagging problems, Annisul Huq sought opinions and cooperation from the editors in raising public awareness to keep the city clean.
Samakal editor Golam Sarwar, Janakantha editor Atikullah Khan Masud, Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Amader Orthoneeti editor Naimul Islam Khan, Manobjamin editor Matiur Rahman, Kaler kantho editor Imdadul Haq Milon, Bangladesh Protidin editor Naeem Nizam, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shymal Datta, Dhaka Tribune editor Jafar Sobhan and UNB Chief News Editor Mahfuzur Rahman were, among others, present.
About water-logging, the mayor said the city dwellers have long been facing the problem, but DNCC has to jurisdiction to solve the problem. ‘Mayor has jurisdiction only over roadside saucer drains. But, storm and sewerage drains are under Wasa authority.’
Clarifying his earlier remarks on the authority of Dhaka Wasa, Annisul said ‘The DNCC doesn’t want the whole Wasa under its purview, but its some areas where Wasa can’t work. ‘If the DNCC gets the authority, it’ll take only one or two years to solve the nagging water-logging,’ he added.
Noting that many canals were occupied and lakes are being occupied, he said the canals and lakes are not under DNCC’s authority. Canals are under jurisdiction of deputy commissioner, while lakes and large parks under that of RAJUK.
He wants the canals, lakes and all parks under his authority.
Turning to traffic congestion, Annisul Huq said they have taken an initiative to bring 3,000 brand new public buses in the city’s streets by June next and reduce the number of bus companies at only five instead of the existing 190 ones in the capital.
‘Basic problem is that some 2,000 bus owners are working under 190 licensed companies in the city. We’ve negotiated with them for the last six months and they were convinced for reducing the number of bus companies at only five,’ he told the senior journalists.

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