1. Green-Blue Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation
A Study on Hatirjheel Lake and surrounding area in Dhaka By
HM Nahyan
A part of the Master Thesis: Planning Green-Blue Infrastructure for Urban Climate Adaptation- A Study Related to Urban Flooding Issues in Dhaka
Land Use Planning, LUP-80436
Wageningen University
the Netherlands.

2. CONTENTS Introduction Problem statement Research objective Results
Discussion & Conclusion

3. The study area, (DMDP area /Greater Dhaka)
RAJUK website-I’ve found list of current projects titled as ‘Lake improvement/ Beautification’. From that list, I’ve selected the ‘Integrated Development of Hatirjheel Area Including Begun Bari Khal Project’ and ‘Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake Improvement & Beautification Project’ as a combined case study area as they are situated in the same area
These projects have multiple objectives other than environment restoration and water retentions such as storm-water drainage, circulation, recreations and can be identified as GBIs (or SUDS) within the study area. They are situated in the central location and serve the core population of the city.
I’ve selected six (6) key locations in the case study areas; four (4) locations from the Case 1 and two (2) locations from the Case 2 depending on a preliminary observation on their urban morphological pattern, land-uses and accessibility to the project
The study area, (DMDP area /Greater Dhaka)
Location of the Study area
Source: (June 14th, 2017)

4. CASE STUDY Case: Hatirjheel lake and surrounding area
Gulshan lake
Banani lake
I’ve studied two cases to gather case-specific information which strengthened my understanding of the problem
RAJUK website-I’ve found list of current projects titled as ‘Lake improvement/ Beautification’. From that list, I’ve selected the ‘Integrated Development of Hatirjheel Area Including Begun Bari Khal Project’ and ‘Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake Improvement & Beautification Project’ as a combined case study area as they are situated in the same area
These projects have multiple objectives other than environment restoration and water retentions such as storm-water drainage, circulation, recreations and can be identified as GBIs (or SUDS) within the study area. They are situated in the central location and serve the core population of the city.
I’ve selected six (6) key locations in the case study areas; four (4) locations from the Case 1 and two (2) locations from the Case 2 depending on a preliminary observation on their urban morphological pattern, land-uses and accessibility to the project
Hatirjheel lake
Case: Hatirjheel lake and surrounding area

5. PROBLEM STATEMENT Water logging caused by rainfall.
Dhaka city’s environmental problems are mostly human induced but climate change is posing major threats in particularly flooding and heat stress (Alam et al. 2007). The rainfall patterns are erratic with higher intensity during the monsoon and less rainfall throughout the year . The city experiences about 2000 mm annual rainfall, of which more than 80% occurs during the monsoon season.
During monsoon the surrounding river level becomes high, therefore no gravity based drainage, with more rainfall and prolonged monsoon the city is more depending pumps for longer periods. Eastern part of the city is a less developed low-laying area and has no embankment therefore most vulnerable to river flooding. This is quite a common phenomenon during monsoon seasons that the low laying areas suffers short term flooding and remain inundated until the surrounding river stage recedes.
Flooding in almost every year, Socio-economic loss
Water logging caused by rainfall.
Source: (April 4, 2012)
Flooded area during Monsoon in 2007.
Source:

6. PROBLEM STATEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS Erratic rainfall pattern
Higher water level in monsoon
URBANIZATION RELATED ISSUES
Encroachment of green and waterbodies
Impervious surface
Insufficient drainage capacity
Pollution, waste dumping
Western part of the city is mostly built-up areas and has lost its natural character with 42 canals which helped the city’s gravity based drainage system.
Dhaka, importance of GBI is being ignored since the continuous loss of greenery is also evident from several studies. Studies showed that approximately 80% of areas of greater Dhaka had non-urban land-uses with open greenspaces and agriculture in 1960 but the number has shrunk up to 40% by the year 2005 (Dewan & Yamaguchi, 2008; BCAS, 2006; Byomkesh et al, 2012).
Waste dumping is one of the major management and social issue for drainage in Dhaka
Chronological wetland loss of Dhaka. Source: Mahmud et al., 2011

7. Encroachment of Hatirjheel lake area
Western part of the city is mostly built-up areas and has lost its natural character with 42 canals which helped the city’s gravity based drainage system.
Dhaka, importance of GBI is being ignored since the continuous loss of greenery is also evident from several studies. Studies showed that approximately 80% of areas of greater Dhaka had non-urban land-uses with open greenspaces and agriculture in 1960 but the number has shrunk up to 40% by the year 2005 (Dewan & Yamaguchi, 2008; BCAS, 2006; Byomkesh et al, 2012).
Waste dumping is one of the major management and social issue for drainage in Dhaka
Encroachment of Hatirjheel lake area
Source: SWO, 2004

8. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES & QUESTIONS
MAIN OBJECTIVE
To investigate the existing green-blue infrastructures to assess its socio-political aspects in the built-ecology in respect to the urban flooding issues.
MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION
What are the socio-political aspects of the existing green-blue infrastructure related to adaptation to urban flooding issues in the urban areas of Dhaka?
The focus is on the urban flooding issues of the study area.
Specific research questions:
What are the climate change impacts that is causing urban flooding of the study area?
What is the existing situation of the GBI, drainage system and land-use pattern related to urban flooding in the study area?
What is the existing institutional capacity related to planning for adaptation to urban flooding in the study area?
What is the social attitude and interaction towards GBI in the study area?
To overcome with the objective, this research aims to study the spatial planning oriented GBI concepts to develop a comprehensive framework for GBI adaptation to
urban flood-risks. The environmental aspects of the GBI are strongly related to urban hydrology, as storm-water is one of the environmental performances of GBI (Gill et al. 2007;Mell 2008)

9. METHODOLOGY- DATA COLLECTION METHODS
Primary and
Secondary Data
DATA COLLECTION-triangulation method
Interview
Questionnaire survey
Document survey
This research is based on the cross-sectional design. It represents the present socio-infrastructural situation related to climate-change and urban flooding

10. The snow-balling network of the sampling process of interviewees.
METHODOLOGY
INTERVIEW
08 (eight) experts from
Urban planning
Urban Hydrology
Semi-structured
Regional & case-specific
Target groups were experts from these three disciplinary backgrounds. I’ve selected eight (8) experts for interviews through snow-ball sampling techniques
BCCSAP , NAPA-2005-present, DMDP, DAP, , FAPs-1991
Legislation related to GBI implementation-Wetland Conservation Act 2000, Water Act 2013, Local Government Act 2009, Dhaka Metropolitan Building Construction Rules 2008
Hydrological model-2014
The snow-balling network of the sampling process of interviewees.

11. RESULTS- INTERVIEW: CASE STUDY RESULTS
MULTIPLE PROPOSALS
RAJUK’s initial plan
Development oriented approach
Less water body area
Land development
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.
Hatirjheel project plan
Source: RAJUK

12. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW MULTIPLE PROPOSALS
BUET’s east-west connection plan
Elevated roadway
Keeping existing water body
Surrounding service road to control encroachment
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.
Proposed elevated roadway in Hatirjheel area
Source: BRTC, BUET

13. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW MULTIPLE PROPOSALS Final master plan
Agreed by all parties
Keeping existing water body
Surrounding express road
Multiple connection bridges
Multifunctionality
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.
Final master plan for Hatirjheel area
Source: VITI Ltd.

14. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW Land acquisition of Hatirjheel area
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.
Law enforcement- Land Acquisitation, Bangladesh Water Development Board Act 2000
Land acquisition of Hatirjheel area
Source: SWO

15. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW Development of Hatirjheel area Source: SWO
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.
Law enforcement- Land Acquisitation, Bangladesh Water Development Board Act 2000
Development of Hatirjheel area
Source: SWO

16. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW Multiple functions in Hatirjheel project
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.
Multiple functions in Hatirjheel project

17. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW
Multifunctionality – important role in decision making
Multiple stakeholders engagement
Social issues- major implementation challenge
Enforcing environmental Acts
“There were many “dreams” around this project which cannot be realized in this context, we had to realize the integrality or multifunctionality of this project. Otherwise, with only environmental rationales it would never be realized”.
Urban planner UP-02
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.

18. RESULTS RESULTS- INTERVIEW
Multifunctionality – important role in decision making
Multiple stakeholders engagement
Social issues- major implementation challenge
Enforcing environmental Acts
“There were many “dreams” around this project which cannot be realized in this context, we had to realize the integrality or multifunctionality of this project. Otherwise, with only environmental rationales it would never be realized”.
Urban planner UP-02
Site-specific situations
Multi-functionality- trade-off between environmental and transportation goals. Later, recreational and public amenities were added to the design to make it more for financially viable
Social issues-winner-loser situations and there were lot of arguments over the land rights, Wall issues
The differences in the site-specific governance and planning issues reveals the spatial factors GBI adaptation in different spatial scales.

19. RESULTS- QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY2 3 4 1
Hatirjheel lake
Gulshan lake
Banani lake
Location-3,4
I’ve studied two cases to gather case-specific information which strengthened my understanding of the problem
RAJUK website-I’ve found list of current projects titled as ‘Lake improvement/ Beautification’. From that list, I’ve selected the ‘Integrated Development of Hatirjheel Area Including Begun Bari Khal Project’ and ‘Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara Lake Improvement & Beautification Project’ as a combined case study area as they are situated in the same area
These projects have multiple objectives other than environment restoration and water retentions such as storm-water drainage, circulation, recreations and can be identified as GBIs (or SUDS) within the study area. They are situated in the central location and serve the core population of the city.
I’ve selected six (6) key locations in the case study areas; four (4) locations from the Case 1 and two (2) locations from the Case 2 depending on a preliminary observation on their urban morphological pattern, land-uses and accessibility to the project
Specific survey locations in Hatirjheel lake and surrounding area
location-1,2

20. RESULTS- QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY
User’s experience on
flooding effects
Maximum responses on multiple functionality from the surveyed areas
Locations
Functions
L1, L2
L3, L4
Connectivity
(++)
(-+)
Health
(+),(++)
(--)
Business
(-)
Recreation
(+)
Environment
location-1,2
L1,2-connectivity & health, respondent’s comments varied in same topic based on the existing spatial situation. For example, wall and pedestrian regulation
L3.4- business and connectivity, the pedestrian accessibility is much limited due to the boundary walls.
L5-6- Health & recreation,
(--) = strongly irrelevant, (-) =irrelevant, (-+) = relevant, (+) = necessary,
(++) = immediate
Location-3,4

21. RESULTS- QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY
User’s experience on
preferences on GBI functions & adaptation options
Maximum responses on preferred types of adaptation measures
Locations
Adaptation options
L1, L2
L3, L4
Other
(+)
Permeable surface
( )
Water parks
Urban forestry
Green roofs
location-1,2
L1,2- for adaptation options, the residents mostly preferred community-based waste management, more play-grounds and individual adaptation such as elevating property area which are categorized as ‘other’ .
L3,4- local management for cleaning drainage blocks, good leadership, less living expenses which are categorized as other measures in the result
L5, 6- many of the respondents were aware of their benefits and preferred green integration to their individual households for environmental and aesthetics reasons
(+) = Yes, (-) = No, ( ) = Neutral
Location-3,4

22. GENERAL DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
Coordination challenges in deploying legal instruments
(cooperation between urban actors, mainstreaming CC in local level)
Complexity in realistic (robust) strategy formulation, stakeholder’s engagement
(Integration of urban planning and flood-risk management, multiple rationales)
Contextual vs technical approach
(Participation for self-regulation and sustainable use of environmental resources)
Displacement issue
(engaging effected communities, economic migration/rehabilitation)
deviation form authoritarian practice towards democratization and public empowerment of the adaptation process is essential to deal with comprehensive development process
multi-functionality - should also be considered that, such developments should not contribute to more environmental problems such as inviting more traffic thus more exhaustions, heat and pollution
Low income community living in urban edges.
Example of green corridor in railway lines, river demarcation

23. QUESTIONS ?