Non-structural flood mitigation measures for Dhaka City

After the disastrous flood of 1988, Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project (DIFPP) was undertaken as a part of the national Flood Action Plan (FAP). However, DIFPP focused primarily on the structural measures for flood damage mitigation. When the city was hit by another major flood in 1998, it became evident that non-structural measures contributed significantly to flood damage reduction. This paper explores existing and proposed non-structural measures as a part of the long-term flood mitigation strategies for Dhaka City. The options examined in this paper include flood forecasting and warning, preservation of retention ponds, land use planning, flood zoning, emergency services, shelters, flood proofing, flood fighting and post-flood rehabilitation measures. Moreover, experiences from 1998 flood indicate that coordination between agencies responsible for flood protection and drainage of the city can significantly reduce the flood damage.