Fresh move to stop waterlogging
CCC starts work to dredge, widen 30 canals and drains next month
The Chaktai Khal (canal) has been freed from the encroachers for dredging and constructing road on its bank.Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder
Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) will start work to dredge and widen around 30 canals and drains next month to rid the port city of waterlogging. CCC has already floated tenders involving Tk 4 crore in this regard, sources said. Besides, construction of the walkway on the west side of Chaktai Khal (canal) at a cost of Tk 2.4 crore will begin by month-end, they said. There are 144 canals and 418 drains for passage of rainwater and sewages to the river Karnaphuli and the Bay, sources said. Due to lack of proper maintenance, most of the drains and canals have been filled up with mud where encroachments also disrupt normal passage of the water. As a result, the canals and drains cannot cope with the flow of water during heavy rainfall and cause damages of properties as well as lives. The canals to be dredged included Chaktai Khal at different points, Mirza Khal and Dom Khal at Chandgaon, Tripura Khal at West Sholoshahar, Chashma Khal at Sholokbahar, Shital Jharna and Bamun Shahi Khal at Panchlaish, Birza Khal at East Sholoshahar, Bongshal Para Chhara at North Pathantuli and Nasir Khan Chhara at North Agrabad. The city corporation has also a plan to dredge several other canals including Hizra Khal, Khazir Khal, Chatteswari Khal, North, Middle and South Badarkhali Khal. The rain-induced devastating landslide and waterlogging claimed 127 lives and caused huge damage to properties on June 11 this year. The city dwellers also experienced a devastating waterlogging on October 16. On both the occasions, most of the city areas went under knee-deep to waist-deep water, causing immense sufferings to the city dwellers. Normal activities as well as wheel of economy came to a total halt as inundation and waterlogging caused damages to machineries and raw materials at different industrial units. Abu Saleh, superintendent engineer (Division-1) of the city corporation, said they will float tenders for dredging more canals and drains. He, however, said beside their efforts, awareness should be raised among the city dwellers to keep the canals clean for smooth passage of water. Miserable conditions of the canals are one of the major reasons for waterlogging, he said, adding that after completion of the work situation would improve. Prof Mohammad Shahidul Islam, an environmentalist, said the measures should be taken and implemented in a planned way. He said apart from the dredging and widening work, other obstacles like gas and water supply lines should be removed from the sewerage to help drain out the rain and drain water.
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