State of Water Governance in Dhaka Metropolitan City of Bangladesh: Evidence from Three Selected Slums.

ABSTRACT

Improvement of water management and services remains as a key challenge towards ensuring sustainable governance system presently. It is beyond belief that water rich countries like Bangladesh have to face water crisis notwithstanding her location at one of the largest fresh water store houses in the world. Water situation of Dhaka city especially in the poor slum areas is very wretched and under the threat of serious water borne diseases. It is evident from the survey findings commissioned in two slums under Dhaka City Corporation that, absence of governance in water management and services resulted in misappropriation of water and anguishes of the marginal dwellers living in the slums. The paper aims to explain the pattern of water governance at the slums in Dhaka Metropolitan City. It also directs efforts towards exploring causes behind conflicts surrounded by water issue as well as nature of conflict among three parties i.e. slum dwellers, the government and non-government. The study is ended with a set of recommendations in an attempt to ensure better water governance at the slum areas.