Overview of research sites and scoping study – Khulna, Bangladesh

1. Overview of Study Area in Bangladesh
in context of
Regional and Local Settings
M. Shahjahan Mondal
Associate Professor
Institute of Water & Flood Management
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology
Email: mshahjahanmondal@iwfm.buet.ac.bd
Workshop on
Water Security in Peri-Urban South Asia:
Adapting to Climate Change & Urbanization
16-19 August 2010
Kathmandu, Nepal

3. GBM Basins
• Bangladesh is the lower
riparian of the GBM
basins
• 91% flows
• Ganges contribution is
37%
• SW part of Bangladesh is
totally dependent on the
Ganges water
• Gorai

4. SW Bangladesh
• Sundarbans – largest
continuous mangrove
ecosystem & a
ramsar world heritage
site
• Mongla Port – second
sea port
• Khulna – third largest
city
• Khulna has a strong
industrial base

6. Existing Problems
• 28% of the population live in the coastal area
• Water logging
• Coastal Embankment Project (CEP) was implemented
in the 1960s
• A series of polders were constructed to control the
intrusion of saline water
• The intervention simplified the drainage network from a
very large number of tidal creeks & rivers to a small
number of large rivers.
• This reduced the tidal volume and increased the tidal
range.

7. Existing Problems
• The occurrence of cyclone,
storm surge and flood
• The 1991 cyclone left 150
thousand people dead
• Salinity in both SW & GW
• Arsenic
• Reduction in fresh water inflow
due to u/s withdrawal & siltation
• Land use change due to shrimp
farming
• Vulnerable to tsunami & SLR

8. Existing Problems
• Coastal zone is low lying with 62% of the land below 3
m & 86% below 5 m above msl.
• Due to 88 cm SLR, 11% more coastal area will be
inundated
• 5 ppt saline front will penetrate 40 km inland
• The whole of Sundarbans will be lost
• Increased salt water intrusion is considered as one of
the causes of top dying of Sundari trees
• Salinity level recorded near Khulna in 2007 was the
highest in the past 32 years

9. Khulna City
• 3rd largest city
• Located on the right bank
of the Bhairab-Rupsha,
one of the most important
distributaries of the
Ganges in the Southwest
Coastal Region of
Bangladesh
• Area: 46 km2
• Population: > 1.5 million;
growth rate 5%

10. History
• Declared as Pourashava in 1884
• Until partition of India in 1947, Khulna was a sleepy little
district town, overshadowed by the huge metropolis of
Kolkata.
• After partition, Khulna began to seek its own identity. It
had a sudden influx of population, which necessitated
the development of a satellite town at Khalishpur under
Daulatpur thana, which was about 8 km from the zero
point at the Circuit House Maidan.
• By 1960, the intervening space had filled out and it
became a divisional headquarter.
• The central location and proximity to Sundarban and
seaport prompted the government to develop the jute
industry in and around Khulna after the partition in 1947.
• During late 1950s & 1960s, it became an important
center for industrial development

11. History (con…)
• Newsprint mills, shipyard, jute mills, match factories,
hardboard mills were established
• Khulna was given a metropolitan status in 1984 when
its population exceeded one million.
• But since the 1980's, the decreasing popularity of jute
and jute goods in the international market, in spite of
its value as a biodegradable packaging material, put a
brake on further expansion of the jute industry.
• But at present there are signs of a revival through new
products and processes, as well as environmental
compulsions.
• The city is regaining impetus for growth, following the
export processing activities centering on shrimp
cultivation
• Academic & training institutions

13. Strategic Importance of Khulna
• The location of Khulna in the heart of the SW coastal
region has given it many advantages.
• The linkages of the city with regional towns and growth
centres have made it the most important city in the
region
• provides links to the Mongla sea port, which is only 40
km d/s
• is a major river port of the country for inland water
transport
• Sundarban attracts tourist from home and abroad
• has a strong industrial base after Dhaka and Chittagong
• This has come into focus specially after the completion
of Lalon Shah Bridge and Khanjahan Ali Bridge which
will facilitate Nepal and seven sister states of India to
use Mongla port facilities if agreement can be made at
the govt level

14. Khulna City Corporation
• in 1990 with 5 thanas &
31 wards
• one-fourth is city core
• Densely populated;
contains multi-storied
buildings
• The rest is a mixture of
urban & peri-urban areas
• There are several low-
income areas and slums
throughout the city

17. Urban Drainage Problem
Drainage system in KCC
is towards the Mayur River
Drainage system is
open
Total length : 652 km
Paved drain: 291 km
Semi-paved : 56 km
Earthen drain: 305 km

18. Geological & Hydrological Setting
• Topographically, the city slopes towards west
but regionally towards south.
• The average height is 3.3 m above msl
• The city lies on the Ganges deltaic plain in
north and Ganges tidal plain in south and
consists of late Holocene to recent Alluvium
• Lithologically, the area is composed of coarse
to very fine sand, silt and silty clay up to a
depth of 300 m with peaty soil and calcareous
as well as non-calcareous soil at the top

21. Urban Geomorphology of Khulna City
LAND FORMS AND INFERRED SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENT AND
EVENTS.
NL, FB, ML and AC form peatlands in some parts of the inactive
area of the Ganges delta and coastal plain.
Flood plain, channels and peat lands within the Ganges delta in
progradational phase with intermittent deposition of fine silt of
transgrassive sea.
Shallow marine shelf, estuarine and tidal flat under transgressive
sea
Deposits of rivers flowing in the Ganges delta during Late
Pleistocene to Holocene epoch. The lower is erosive and
unconformable.
Tidal creeks, tidal channel and estuarine plain deposition in the
coastal area in the Bengal Basin during early Quaternary epoch,
which may be equivalent to upper part of the Dupi Tila
Formation. The lower contact is sharp to gradational
Deposition of sand in large channels in the KCC area of the
southern part of the present inactive Ganges delta which may be
equivalent to the Lower Dupi Tila Formation and or Upper part of
the Tipam Formation. The lower contact is erosive and
unconformable.
Marshy area and small channels in flood plain.
Note: NL= Natural Levee, FB= Flood Basin, ML= Marshy Land and AC = Abandoned Channel

22. Contemporary Water Management Issues in Khulna
City
• Drinking water crisis
• Lowering of GWT
• Poor drainage
• Water logging
• Water quality
• Solid waste management
• Climate change vulnerability
• Urban planning
• Dying of Mayur River

23. Drinking Water Crisis
• Present water supply is mainly from groundwater
sources drawn from both DTW & STW
• Water supply is 13 MG per day
• The coverage is only 30% of households with piped
water supply
• The rest is self-managed and many of the people face
water crisis
• To cope with this insufficient supply and increasing
demand, KWASA was established in March 2008

24. Lowering of GWT
During the dry season, 50% of DTWs become
inoperative.

25. Poor Drainage System
• Drainage system is not good
– Improper slope, inadequate sections & inadequate outlets
– Lack of maintenance
– Disposal of wastes into drains
– Encroachments & settlements on drainage paths
– River and water pollution
– Corruption
– No study
– Water insecurity in urban & peri-urban areas
• There were natural drains, but widths were reduced
• KWASA is responsible
• KWASA needs to return back to the original drains

26. Water Logging due to Poor Drainage System
In Khulna city, 38% of households regularly experience
short-duration logging.
In some areas, more than 90% people are affected by water
logging.

27. Groundwater Quality
• The aquifer system is hydraulically connected to the
Bay of the Bengal & the surrounding rivers.
• 85, 35 & 50% of the wells had Na+, K+ & Cl-
concentrations exceeding the WHO limit.
• Excess in Na+ and Cl- concentration is due to the
seawater intrusion which forces the abandonment of
water wells in many instances.
• High TDS values in about half of the borewells may
be attributed to hydraulic connection with the river.

28. Groundwater Quality of KCC area
Bangladesh
Parameters Average
standard
pH 7.87 6-8.5
EC (µs/cm) 1405.83
TDS (ppm) 1011.17 1000
Cations
Na+ 209.42 200
K+ 5.58 12
Ca+ 102.50 75
Mg2+ 28.00 30-35
Cl- 292.08 150-600*
CO32- 44.33
Anions
HCO3- 631.92
H4SiO42- 51.17
PO43- 0.56 6
SO42- 20.92 400
Source: Shahinujjaman, 2004

29. Surface Water Quality
Seasonal variation of the Bhairab Water Quality
SL No. Pre Post
Parameter Monsoon
Monsoon Monsoon
1 pH 6.8 7.69 6.9
2 Temp (C) 31.6 28.9 22.3
4 CO2 0.15 0.15 0.2
5 DO (ppm) 7.8 6.9 6.92
6 TDS (mg) 10380 195000 6520
7 HCO3- 180 135 142
8 H4SiO4 5 2.5 2.82
9 Na+ 2300 2150 1750
10 K+ 78 72 61
11 Ca+ 96 15 84
12 Mg2+ 150 140 145
13 Cl- 4653 4330 4510
14 SO42 700 658 682
15 NO3- 3 2.8 2.9
16 PO43- 2 0.08 1.09
Khanom, 2009

30. Solid Waste Management
• Solid waste generation in Khulna City is 450 tons a day.
• KCC is responsible (33%)
• NGOs, CBOs & private organizations are also involved
(17%)
• Half is collected & reaches the final disposal site which is
about 8 km from the city
• The uncollected waste is often dumped in an
uncontrolled manner throughout the city clogging drains,
blocking roads & occupying vacant plots
• This causes flooding, increases traffic congestion &
presents health risk

31. Climate Change Vulnerability
• International Institute for Development and Environment
on "Climate Change and the Urban Poor: Risk and
resilience in 15 of the world's most vulnerable cities"
• It identified Khulna as one of the most vulnerable cities
• The report says that the major concerns for Khulna are
frequent and increased level of floods, storm surges,
intensity of cyclones, water logging, saline intrusion,
sedimentation and river erosion.
• Climate refuges in Khulna after Sidr and Aila

32. Urban Planning
• KDA was created as a semi-autonomous body in 1961
• under the Ministry of Housing and Public Works
• Planned development and expansion of Khulna City and
its suburb areas
• A new and revised master plan comprising of 451 km2
was prepared and approved by the govt in 2001
• A further expansion of the master plan extending upto
the Mongla port is underway
• Unlike Dhaka, Khulna is the city, which is still virgin and
can be made a planned city

33. Mayur River
• Derelict river
• It flows to the NW side of the
Khulna city
• It separates Dumuria thana
from the city
• 9.5 km long; falls into the
Rupsha River near Badamtala,
Batiaghata
• Subsistence uses
• Few hundred fisher families
• There was abundance of fish
until 1983

34. Mayur River
• It receives all types of
municipal & industrial
wastes
• 18 canals & drains to
drain out effluents
• Slums around this river
• Dumping (domestic &
urban sewage, industrial
effluents, agricultural
wastes) at various sites of
the river

35. Other Water Related Issues of KCC
Tropical cyclone and storm surge
Inundation of freshwater sources during
cyclonic event and storm surge
Increased salinity in rivers and aquifers –
power plant was closed due to salinity
Shortage of freshwater for agriculture

36. Other Water Related Issues of KCC
Pollution of rivers and ponds from untreated
urban and industrial effluents
Hanging latrines on ponds and river canals
Unplanned urban settlements on the river banks

37. Peri-Urban Areas in & around KCC
Peri-urban areas
Urban areas

38. Peri-Urban area:
Identification & issues
• KWASA coverage is one-
third of the area
• DTWs were not sunk in a
planned way
• KWASA is not permitting
DTW installation
• No DTW in Ward No. 1, 2
& 3 of Daulatpur; STW is
not safe
• No water infrastructure in
Phultala, Batiaghata,
Rupsha & Dighalia
• Self managed STW/DTW
• No NGO is working in
WSS in peri-urban area

39. Peri-Urban area
• Khals are water logged, leased out
• Some are polluted
• Siltation & encroachment

40. Peri-Urban area
• KCC planned to lift 9 MG
of GW from Phultala area
with 40 DTWs
• The project came to a
halt in 2007 in the face of
people's agitation
• Madhumati water with
treatment
• Poddo Beel as a reservoir
– farmers’ agitation
• Mayur as reservoir –
NGO

41. Visited area
• Rupsha F. Ghat

42. Visited area
• Md. Nagar
• Agricultural until 2000
• Not many people
• Rainfed agriculture
• Land value
– Tk. 3-10 thousand
– Tk. 150-400 thousand
• 1 DTW per 10-100 h/h
• No drainage congestion

43. Visited area
• 10-vent regulator at
Tetultala
• To prevent salt water
intrusion
• No coordination between
BWDB & local people
• Gate operation &
management

44. Visited area
• KWASA is looking for alternative source of water
• Natural drainage is towards the Mayur River
• Siltation, pollution & encroachment
• Subsistence uses & use as a reservoir
• ETP – cost, regulation!!!
• Capacity is adequate!!!
• BWDB, LGED, KCC, KDA, KWASA, DPHE,
Fisheries, DC
• Software!!!

45. Visited area
• Sea level rise could delay discharge from the
drainage system in low-lying areas
• Flooding by contaminated wastewater could cause
serious health risks
• Changes in salinity regime from sea level rise may
affect the availability of fresh surface and
groundwater
• Still in the process of selecting the exact field site!!!

46. Thank you

47. • At every section of an estuary, salinity varies with the
state of tide and also with the up land flow. Bangladesh
has a monsoonic climate. The upland river flow has a
distinct seasonal pattern. The upland flow increases from
June to reach the peak in August/September and
decreases from October. With this variation of fresh
water flow salinity varies inversely. Salinity front of a
particular concentration starts moving upstreams from
October and starts moving towards sea during June.
• The Ocean water has salinity of 35 parts per thousand
whereas in the Bay of Bengal close to Bangladesh coast
it is 30–32 parts per thousand. This is due to discharge
of sweet water by the three big rivers.

48. • Rajbond Trenching Ground Site: It is at
present the only official dumping site, 25
acres in area situated at a distance of
about 10 kms to the west of KCC
Headquarter

49. Problem of Solid Waste Management
On-payment door to door collection of household
garbage covers about 17% households by local NGOs.
33% of the households throw waste into nearby drains,
on low lands, or elsewhere.