Municipal Corporations Research Articles

Exploring Stormwater Best Management Practices for Urban Flood Reduction in Khulna City of Bangladesh Using PCSWMM

Khulna City Corporation (KCC), located in a low-lying area in southwestern Bangladesh, has been suffering from frequent water logging in the rainy season almost every year. This situation is intensified due to rapid urbanization and the impact of climate change, which have consequently created numerous problems in KCC related to stormwater management issues that require immediate consideration. Therefore, the current study aims to explore stormwater management problems in KCC and find possible countermeasures through different best management practices. Stormwater management must be incorporated into urban design and development, particularly in densely populated urban areas like KCC. In Ward No. 30 of KCC, controlling stormwater is a vital concern due to heavy rainfall, a lack of proper drainage infrastructure, unplanned growth, extensive land cover areas, etc. In the current study, the most widely used Personnel Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM) software was adopted to evaluate the city's current stormwater management practices and develop a long-term stormwater management strategy. A reconnaissance investigation of the existing states of the soil, drainage, and outlet infrastructures was conducted. The study area (KCC Ward No. 30) was then divided into many small catchments in the ArcGIS platform, and areas of each sub-catchment were identified. To determine the percentage of impervious area and the elevation of the study area, the land use and land cover (LULC) map and the digital elevation model (DEM) were generated using the ArcGIS software. All the aforementioned parameters were then entered into the PCSWMM software, and simulations were performed for various rainfall durations using different best management practices. The PCSWMM simulation provided the results of runoff, infiltration, peak runoff, floods, or surcharges at every drainage node or discharge point in the existing and altered drainage system of the study area due to the occurrence of extreme rainfall. The results indicate that various best management practices, increasing the slope, reducing the roughness of the drainage systems, reducing imperviousness, permitting more infiltrations, and promoting green infrastructure, are highly effective in controlling urban flooding or surcharges in the study area caused by the occurrence of extreme rainfall in the future. The findings of this study are expected to be supportive to policymakers, urban planners, and water managers in implementing and promoting sustainable and climate-resilient urban drainage infrastructures to tackle stormwater management problems in the KCC area. Journal of Engineering Science 15(1), 2024, 107-118

Equity in Public Facilities Provision in an Urban Area: A Spatial Analysis of Rajshahi City Corporation

In the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC)area, spatial sizeis not proportionate to the placement of public facilities due to rapid urbanization and population growth. This raises the question ofwhat is the level of equity present inthe provision of public facilities in the city corporation area. For this research, primary schools, high schools, colleges, health facilities, and markets were selected from the available types of public facilities.Location Quotient (LQ) method and Gini Coefficientwere used to analyze locational concentration and spatial disparity in the provision of public facilities in 30 wards of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC). Service area analysiswas done to show how much of the city corporation area falls under afavorable distance from the public facilities.The number of the wards having LQ value > 1 range from 9 – 15 based on different public facilities; showing locational concentration is present for all public facilities. The Gini coefficient (GC) values range from 0.41 to 0.67, showing a high level of spatial inequity. The service area analysis also shows the service area of the public facilities fail to cover all of the wards.In the future, inequity in provision of public facilities can compound with the increase in population and urban sprawl if not met with regulatory and inclusive planning policies.

A review of E-Governance of Municipal Corporation in Urban Local Bodies

Modern states, regardless of their prevailing political ideology or national government structure, always have a system of local governance. The importance of local government cannot be minimized in any political system, whether it be a unitary or federal one, a parliamentary or presidential one. People are showing a surprising tendency toward optimism in regards to their communities' local governments. E-governance refers to the use of more minimal electronic systems in government operations, with the goal of storing, gathering, recognizing, and disseminating bandwidth and data affecting daily operations to the civilian population on demand. In this paper give review on e-governance in urban local bodies.

Factors Influencing Vaccine Receipt During a 2018 Pediatric Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Campaign in Navi Mumbai, India.

In 2018, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation implemented phase 1 of a public sector typhoid conjugate vaccine campaign in Navi Mumbai, India, targeting all children aged 9 months to 14 years within its administrative boundaries. To assess associations with receipt of vaccine in phase 1, we used generalized estimating equations to calculate estimates of vaccination by child-, household-, and community-level demographics (child education and age; household head education, income, and occupation; community informal settlement percent). Campaign vaccine receipt was most associated with children enrolled in school (odds ratio [OR] = 3.84, 95% CI: 2.18-6.77), the lowest household income tertile when divided into three equal parts (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.43-1.84), and lower community-level socioeconomic status (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04-1.08 per 10% informal settlement proportion). The campaign was successful in reaching the most underserved populations of its target communities.

Beyond the margins: antenatal health and healthcare behaviours among homeless women in Kolkata Municipal Corporation, India.

Despite high childbearing rates among homeless women in India, the antenatal health and healthcare behaviours among such population remain poorly understood. To address this research gap, a mixed-methods approach was employed in the present study, involving interviews with a sample of 400 women aged 15-49 years, utilising time and location sampling techniques. Additionally, a purposeful sample of 52 women from the same age group participated in in-depth interviews. The respondents exhibited rampant socio-economic backwardness, including chronic homelessness (36%), no formal education (54%), engagement in rag picking (31%), and low income levels. About 56% of the women reported poor self-rated health (SRH), notably higher among those aged 35 and above and those living alone (68%). Poor SRH was also prevalent among the ever married (61%), ragpickers (61%), beggars (62%), chronic homeless individuals (62%), tobacco (60%) and alcohol consumers (61%), and those with chronic diseases (61%). Common health issues included depression or anxiety (56%) and iron deficiency anaemia (35%). The level of unmet healthcare needs was 41%, with significant variation across diseases. Lack of reproductive health rights and awareness, socio-cultural beliefs, stigma, socio-economic poverty, poor quality of public healthcare services, irregularity in charity-run healthcare, and time constraints hindered antenatal care visits. The study underscores the urgent need for population-centric programmes and policies aimed at promoting reproductive health to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 of 'Good health and wellbeing' by 2030.

Prevalence of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption and associated food choice motives among adults in an urban population in Kerala.

Existing literature does not account for food choice motives associated with the non-communicable disease risk factor of an unhealthy diet, primarily characterised by inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, among adults residing in Kochi Municipal Corporation. Our study aims to measure the prevalence of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption in this urban population and to identify priority food choice motives among individuals at risk. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 adults (mean age 46 years, men 50%) selected by cluster sampling. Information on socio-demographic variables, diet, and food choice motives was collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. In our study, 86% (95% CI: 82.07-89.93) of participants reported inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. The food choice motives of "price" [aOR 2.99, 95% CI: 1.32-6.78], "health" [aOR 2.56, 95% CI: 1.08-6.24], and "sensory appeal" [aOR 2.20, 95% CI: 1.06-4.56] were found to be significantly associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption per day (P < 0.05). The high prevalence of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption in this urban community necessitates targeted and comprehensive educational campaigns that highlight the health benefits and sensory appeal of fruits and vegetables, as well as the affordability of seasonal produce, to ensure adequate intake of these foods.

Seasonal Variation of (Benzo[a]Pyrene) in Ambient Air of Urban to Peri-urban Areas of Panvel Municipal Corporation, Raigad with Reference to Particulate Matter

Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment have been linked to severe health effects. This study aims to assess the atmospheric pollutant and analyze the variation in PAHs, focussed on benzo[a]pyrene [B(a)P]. Among all PAHs, B(a)P is regarded as a marker for human carcinogenicity. This study reflects the B(a)P concentration and its correlation with the particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in rural, peri-urban, and urban areas of Panvel Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra, India. Samples were collected during the pre &amp; post-monsoon season for two consecutive years (Yr. 2020 and Yr. 2021). B(a)P level was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector. It was observed that PM2.5 and PM10 show a strong positive correlation (r=0.8-0.9) with B(a)P. It is observed that B(a)P concentrations were high in pre-monsoon w.r.t. post-monsoon, and this concentration increased spatially as we moved from rural to urban areas. Pre-monsoon B(a)P concentration varies somewhat by 5% between rural to urban areas as compared to post-monsoon. High levels of vehicular emissions and industry were associated with the distribution of B(a)P in urban areas, whereas a combination of local emissions and metropolitan area diffusion was responsible for the presence of B(a)P in peri-urban and rural areas. Also, this study captures the variation of B(a)P levels during the period of COVID-19. In future studies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can augment the determination of PAHs in soil by improving the accuracy and speed of analysis using predictive modeling based on different input parameters to determine outliers in soil PAH data, building sensor networks for real-time monitoring of PAH levels, leverage robotics for automated sample preparations, and rapid testing of samples to identify hotspots.

“If You Want to Get Rid of Filth Diseases, You Must First Get Rid of the Filth”—The “Economic” Decision by a City Corporation to Collect Household Waste

ABSTRACT The collection of household waste is now taken for granted. Such services have a cost, borne by local/central government or householders. Literature highlights such costs, also noting how householders can reduce them by recycling. Waste collection was not always a service offered to householders, with the first such services appearing from the mid-19th century. Although accounting history literature has explored accounting in cities and the public sector, research on how costs featured in the introduction of services such as waste removal appears scarce. This paper explores the decision to introduce waste collection to every household in an Irish city and the role of accounting and costs therein. Events around this decision are analyzed using a dual meaning of economic. The findings suggest a substantivist meaning of economic was paramount and costs were considered within a public health framing. JEL Classifications: M4; N9; R0.

Trace elements accumulation in vegetables and soils of waste dumping sites in southwestern Bangladesh and implication on human health

The untreated municipal solid wastes (MSWs) dumping and improper management causes major concerns of environmental degradation and human health risks. In this study, we collected soil and vegetable from the MSWs dumpsites of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) in southwestern Bangladesh. Trace metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn) were measured to explore the health risk of cultivated vegetables from dumpsites. Soil contamination was evaluated by geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI), while health risk was evaluated by transfer factor (TF), estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ). Results exhibited that the average trace metals in soil and vegetables followed in the order of Fe > Pb > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Cd > Co. The Igeo, EF, CF, and PLI values revealed that the soil contamination was dominated by Pd, Cd, Mn, and Zn. The EDI of metals in vegetables were exceed the maximum daily intake only for Fe, Pb, and Cr. The total THQ was > 1, implying potential health hazards for the local people due to the long-term consumption of the cultivated vegetables. The multivariate analysis reveled that the sources of trace metals in the soils and vegetables of dumpsites were natural and anthropogenic. Overall, the findings suggest that growing vegetables in dumpsite is unsafe for long-term consumption by local inhabitants. Immediate action should be taken to protect the environment and human health from trace metal hazards.

Health hazards implication for household solid waste collectors of north city corporation in Dhaka: a post-COVID study

Health hazards implication for household solid waste collectors of north city corporation in Dhaka: a post-COVID study

Pandemic lessons on essential healthcare services for the urban poor: a qualitative perspective of users and providers in Bangladesh

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic imposed unprecedented challenges to health systems globally. This study explored slum dwellers’ experience of receiving essential health services during the pandemic and the challenges faced by healthcare...

Resilience to future floods through flood memory approach: An example from West Bengal, India

Managing flood situations is a combination of structural, non-structural, and socio-ecological approaches, where the latest includes an operative involvement from the local community, based on their experiences in past flood episodes. The instances of considering this indigenous knowledge and perception while planning for the flood mitigational framework in India are neither very popular a practice nor they are frequently exemplified - but while looking at the case studies from all over the world, this could be a powerful tool for gauging flood scenarios and the living with it. This paper aims to inspect the ways and approaches through which a local community memorizes the fury of floods, how this information can be put in a quantitative way, and can be realistically functioning for coping with future flood consequences. Focusing on the flood memory approach for community resilience, we present the findings of archival research, site-specific folklores and mythological stories (cultural), social methods, verbal methods, exploration of flood markers (structural), and campaigns and exhibitions (educational). A digital questionnaire-based survey was conducted in the most flood-suffering wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area in West Bengal, and upon receiving the reactions, a Flood History Volatility Scale (FHVS) has been devised to test how the strength of an individual's flood memory varies due to some controlling factors. Based on the results obtained from memory work and perceiving the importance of community knowledge during the survey, a comprehensive flood risk management approach has been proposed for flood risk reduction and developing community resilience.

Assessment of Drainage Capacity of a Surface Drain in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

One of the most important components of a community's sustainable environment system is its drainage capacity. The drainage capacity of a community is essential to maintaining environmental resilience, effective water management, and encouraging a healthy urban lifestyle. The surface drains in Rajshahi City receive a mix of waste, including sanitary wastewater, stormwater runoff, and solid waste from roadsides and households. To improve the drainage facilities of Rajshahi, some new drains have been constructed. This study considered a recently constructed drain in the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), running from Talaimari to Chowddopai. The primary objective of this study is to assess the drainage capacity of this drain during both dry and monsoon seasons, ensuring its capability to contain the generated waste. Additionally, the investigation encompasses observing the sludge depth, and clear space of the drain. A field survey was conducted, employing a measuring rod and scale to precisely measure the depth, width, and sludge accumulation. A map was created in ArcGIS providing all the data collected from field surveys. By examining these parameters, this study seeks to contribute valuable information for enhancing the resilience and functionality of the drainage system, thereby promoting a sustainable urban environment.

Prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors during COVID-19 pandemic in the capital of Bangladesh

BackgroundHypertension (HTN) has emerged as a significant public health challenge and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries like Bangladesh. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors among residents of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a multistage random sampling technique to select 305 individuals from Khilkhet Thana in Dhaka North City Corporation. Data were collected through direct surveys using a modified version of the WHO STEPS questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. FindingsThe study identified a 34.4 % prevalence of HTN among the participants, with 46.2 % of hypertensive individuals being under 40 years of age. Of the 105 hypertensive individuals, 65 % were newly diagnosed during the study, and 11 previously diagnosed individuals were not on any medication. A significant association (P < 0.001) was observed between the prevalence of HTN and inadequate intake of fruits (OR = 3.129, 95 % CI = 1.912–5.122, χ2 = 21.328), insufficient vegetables consumption (OR = 2.199, 95 % CI = 1.356–3.565, χ2 = 10.373), high intake of fatty foods (OR = 2.387, 95 % CI = 1.465–3.890, χ2 = 12.454), and excessive salt consumption (OR = 2.771, 95 % CI = 1.677–4.579, χ2 = 16.310). Additionally, the prevalence of HTN was notably higher among overweight (46.70 %) and at-risk (22.90 %) individuals, based on Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), respectively. The study also found significant correlations (P < 0.001) between HTN and factors such as smoking (OR = 2.824, 95 % CI = 1.601–4.980, χ2 = 13.432), kidney disease (OR = 7.534, 95 % CI = 2.694–21.070, χ2 = 19.282), general stress (OR = 3.692, 95 % CI = 2.179–6.255, χ2 = 24.896), COVID-19 related stress (OR = 3.511, 95 % CI = 2.116–5.826, χ2 = 24.712) and sleeping pattern (OR = 5.798, 95 % CI = 3.404–9.875, χ2 = 45.724). ConclusionsThe high prevalence of HTN, particularly among younger individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the urgent need for nationwide surveys, surveillance, and clinical research to accurately depict the true burden of HTN in Bangladesh.

Evaluating Urban Services in Neighbourhoods Through the Inequality Lens in Khulna City, Bangladesh: A Geographic Information System Approach

This article delineates the development of an integrated assessment tool to understand inequality in the provision of urban services among neighbourhoods in Khulna city, Bangladesh. The study considers eight key indicators to evaluate basic urban services related to the physical environment of the city. We use primary and secondary sources of information as well as geographic information system (GIS) to summarise the results in a scientific fashion. Additionally, we adopt the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique to distribute weights among the considered indicators and categorise the neighbourhoods as ‘good’, ‘average’ or ‘poor’ in terms of service availability. Results from the study demonstrate that a majority of the neighbourhoods lack basic urban services. Only 10 per cent of the neighbourhoods are equipped with basic urban services, whereas 74 per cent face difficulties with ‘average’ quality of services and nearly 16 per cent of neighbourhoods fail to provide basic services to city dwellers. Our study may be useful to development authorities, city corporations and local governments to visualise the neighbourhoods struggling for basic urban services and bring them under immediate attention to deliver the required resources. Further, the study provides an assessment model to understand urban service inequality in cities with similar characteristics in other parts of the world.

Modelling the present and future scenario of urban green space vulnerability using PSR based AHP and MLP models in a Metropolitan city Kolkata Municipal Corporation

ABSTRACT Urban green spaces, despite their recognized importance for sustainable urban development, face significant challenges to their resilience and viability due to rapid urbanization and various associated pressures. The scientific problem addressed in this paper is the vulnerability of urban green spaces to various stressors, including proximity to settlement, land use and land cover changes, and proximity to roads, among others. Despite their importance, there is a lack of comprehensive assessments and frameworks to systematically evaluate and address this vulnerability. Therefore, this study aims to fill this gap by employing a multi-criteria decision-making framework, namely the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework. By analyzing 10 indicators related to urban green space vulnerability through a pairwise comparison matrix, the study identifies critical factors influencing vulnerability and categorizes urban green spaces into different susceptibility levels. Additionally, the research extends its analysis to future scenario development for the years 2030 and 2040, using a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) based Markov Chain model, incorporating various parameters such as distances from built-up areas, roads, rails, streams, slopes, and elevation. Through these methodologies, the study aims to provide valuable insights to urban planners, policymakers, and environmental practitioners, enabling them to make informed decisions to enhance the resilience and sustainability of urban green spaces and urban areas as a whole.

Pricing effects of extreme high temperature: Evidence from municipal corporate bonds in China

Climate change and the escalation of extreme weather events jeopardize every corner of the globe. This paper investigates the impact of extreme high temperatures on the spread of newly issued municipal corporate bonds (MCBs) in China, which serves as a crucial instrument for local governments to meet the financial demands. We find that relative to the reference temperature range of 16 °C–20 °C, the issuing spread of MCBs increases by 2.48 basis points for each extra day where the mean temperature surpasses 32 °C. The findings highlight the risk-increasing effects of extreme temperatures in financial markets.

Comparative assessment of waste-to-energy scenarios to mitigate GHG emission from MSW in a developing mega city

The search for sustainable municipal solid waste management in urban areas has become a dire need as the generated unprecedented volumes of waste eventually end up in landfills and emits greenhouse gas (GHG). To offer sustainable waste management in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the performance of incineration, anaerobic digestion, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) based Waste to Energy (WtE) processes were assessed and compared. The population and the GDP of Dhaka North City Corporation from 2015 to 2023 were used to estimate the MSW generation rate with an empirical multivariable linear regression model. In 2023 around 3600 tons/day of MSW was generated which was 35 % higher than in 2015. The IPCC decay models, ZODM, FODM, and modified triangular model (MTM) yielded 87.3, 41.3, and 38-k tonnes of CH4 generation, respectively. The power generation from incineration-based plants can fall from 30 MW to 3 MW if the moisture content of MSW increases from 70 % to 90 %. Anaerobic digestion produces 34 MW of power. The Optimization of the HTC operating parameters was done and it demonstrates substantial energy potential (up to 65 MW with co-feeding of 420 tons/day of hydrochar with 426 tons/day of plastic from MSW) and GHG emission reduction (221.5 %) compared to landfilling. Additionally, HTC-derived wastewater presents an opportunity for nutrient recovery with 8.16 and 2.66, 0.3 tons/day of K, Na, and P reclamation potential, respectively. A comparison of different scenarios in plastic recycling in incineration and sensitivity analysis for three WtE schemes were conducted. Thus, the study provides a rigorous assessment of different pathways to offer a comprehensive framework for sustainable MSW management that contributes to a cleaner urban environment.

Effectiveness of natural herbs on sewage and treated municipal wastewater: A comparative study

Improperly handled sewage is the main cause of water pollution. Nearly 62% of wastewater in urban India remains untreated or partially treated, which further gets disposed of in the natural water bodies. The usual treatment methods include the activated sludge process, oxidation ponds, aerated lagoons, and trickling filters. These methods need spacious areas, a lot of energy and time, which drives up the cost of the treatment. The expense of the treatment process can be decreased by using natural coagulants. The indigenous medical system uses plants, which are abundant in secondary metabolites, to treat a variety of illnesses. The purpose of this study was to comprehend how these indigenous plants can be utilized for treating sewage water, as a low-cost accessible method that can be used by citizens to get access to clean drinking water. Material &amp;amp; Methods: A quick and low-cost method was created to investigate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera (Moringa), Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), and Azadirachta indica (Neem) in the treatment of sewage water. This herb treated water was then compared to municipal treated water from the Ghatkopar Wastewater treatment facility, managed by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Mumbai, India. All the herb-based components were bought from regional markets, and water samples from a lagoon found in the nearby Ghatkopar lagoon in Mumbai. Results: When compared to the lagoon-treated water, the efficacy of the sewage water treated with herbs was higher or comparable. Coliform and copper levels decreased considerably in the treated sample. Herb-treated samples showed a reduction in the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels as compared to the treated water. Conclusion: When combined, the herbs had a significant impact on lowering the COD, Copper, and coliform levels, making the native plants a valuable source for the treatment of sewage water.

GIS-Based Assessment of Best Route in Complex Traffic Environment: A Case of Kolkata Municipal Corporation

In an emergency like an urban fire, road accident, or critical condition of patients, the shortest possible route to reach the destination is one of the most sought-after issues in transportation studies. However, the physical distance of the shortest route becomes longer distance than the travel time distance due to traffic congestion in metropolitan cities like that of Kolkata. So, the selection of an alternative route is essential to organize the journey logically. A well-structured road network provides multiple options to road users for selection of the best route from the shortest and alternative route according to their demand. So, the present study aims to identify the structural characteristics of road networks by graph theory and the selection of the best route using the GIS technique. It has been found that the road network of Kolkata is characterized by complex structure and grid configuration of the network. Selection of the best route also ranges from the shortest route to alternative route due to spatial variation of traffic speed on different roads in peak hours. The current study identifies the optimal route in terms of travel time to reach the required destinations during peak hour duration in the city of Kolkata.