Msasani Bonde la Mpunga
Kinondoni Municipal Council has started improving Msasani Bonde la Mpunga drainage system in efforts to help hundreds of residents in low lying Msasani and Mikocheni flood areas.
Sebastian Mhowela, a spokesperson for the council, said the improvements include construction of 2-1.5 x1.5meters culverts near Shoppers Plaza and raising embankment, as well as construction of open drainage channel (1.5mx2.5) -250m long toward Dar Villa.
He said underground drainage system to cost Sh5 billion would be upgraded to transfer sewage water from four wards, namely Mwananyamala, Mikocheni A and B, Msasani and Makangila.
“The upgraded drainage system will eliminate the problem and the currently floodwater inundated areas will no longer be hazardous,” said Mhowela.
The current pathetic condition is caused by haphazard and poorly constructed structures and poor drainage for sewage and rain water, which result in water logging.
Edward Asheli, one of the residents, said blocking of river courses that drain storm water to the Indian Ocean by affluent developers has resulted in flooding in nearby settlements, occupied by poor households.
“During the rainy season, flood water usually remains standing for more than two months. Stagnant water pools create good mosquito breeding area, thereby increasing the risk of malaria,” said Asheli
Chairman of Mikocheni - Darajani hamlet Maulid Omary, said: “The drains have been ignored… people have build houses across drains, leaving no space for water to pass... that is the reason for floods recurring here.”
He said because of the floods people don’t out of their houses, living with the situation which is very dangerous to their health especially children who are used to play in surrounding areas. Dirty water from the toilets and bathrooms spread out to pathways where people pass and children play.
At Mikocheni-Darajani near the Mayfair Plaza, some residents told this paper that the situation threatens their health as floodwater inundates their homes.
Asheli Edward said for several seasons they have experienced the conditions and that in the present situation it takes over a month to clean sewer water from inside his house.
On his part, a ten-cell leader at Bonde la Mpunga Ahmed Pongolani said the settlements are partly formal and partly informal where at least 450 houses have been affected by floods.
According to various reports, before in 1979, Bonde la Mpunga was mostly virgin wetland used for paddy farming. The 1979 Dar es Salaam Master Plan correctly designated the area as hazardous land for building.
‘Hazardous land’ was defined as having physical limitations for development activities, including flood susceptibility, erosion, steep slopes associated with river valleys or other physical limitations.
Years after, residential houses emerged and by 1992, the city council together with the Ministry Of Lands and Human Settlements Development prepared and approved a local subdivision plan.
The area became prime development destination, especially for wealthy developers who were able to fill in the wetland for development of their structures.
Another factor is that up to that time the land was not legally owned by any individuals due to its status as hazardous land.
The city was thus able to transfer title to the wealthy developers. In the course of their economic calculations, the authorities turned a blind eye to the ecological function of the urban wetland as water sink for the city.
Another ten-cell leader Maua Wasio said a number of initiatives at household and local government levels, and different measures have been taken in the settlements.
Common initiatives include elevating pit latrines to avoid storm water flooding pit latrine sub-structures.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
(1)(1)(1)(1).jpg)
No Comment to " Kinondoni authorities set to address Msasani floods "