An inquiry into the causes of water logging and the coping strategies of the urban poor: a case of the railway slum, Khulna

Abstract

Developing countries like Bangladesh frequently deal with various socio-economic challenges, especially urban poverty. Despite making an essential contribution to the national GDP, the urban poor population lacks proper housing, sanitation, safety, and security. Bangladesh's location and the shifting climate make it a hotbed for natural disasters. Furthermore, cyclonic storms, surges, sea level elevation, and saline encroachment exacerbate the housing predicament of urban impoverished communities, notably in coastal zones. Being a city in the coastal zone, Khulna experiences the outsized impact of storm surges, cyclones, and coastal floods. These hazards cause a persistent waterlogging problem, especially in low-lying slum areas. The Railway slum area is one of the largest slums in Khulna, and it has been experiencing frequent and prolonged waterlogging problems. With their limited means and a trialand- error process, the inhabitants of the Railway slum have learned and innovated to cope with the stagnant water. This research focused on two interrelated issues: the cause of waterlogging in the Railway slum and how the inhabitants cope with it. This case study-based research employs various methods to collect qualitative and quantitative data, including observation, photographic survey, key informant interview, household survey, and focused group discussion. Each method offers unique insights and perspectives that contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the subject under study. Triangulation was used to validate the findings. The results bring to light the causes of this prolonged waterlogging. The findings show the precautionary measures taken by the slum dwellers to reduce the impact of waterlogging conditions, as well as their coping strategies.