Editorial
Inundation of the port city
Get the corrective measures going
It is unfortunate that Chittagong city has come to be ailed by the same problem that the capital and indeed most major towns in the country are plagued by water logging. What was quite an unheard of phenomenon in Chittagong even after prolonged deluge not many years ago has come to beset the city with the slightest bit of downpour. And all this because of filling up of the catchment areas, unplanned growth of the city and, to top it, all, illegal construction that impedes the natural flow of rainwater, and clogging of the canals that cater to the rain runoff. While this has been the case year after year we wonder why the authorities seem not to be bothered with the public misery.
We have said in the past that Chittagong port will gradually increase in importance by assuming a truly international character, it becoming a hub of regional and international trade, and more so after the deep sea port is built in that area. That being so the city shall have to keep up with the growth of the port in every aspect to be truly an international city.
We wonder whether the city planners and the Chittagong city corporation are aware of this and whether they are actually making long term plans to cope with the changed circumstances.
We watch with deep anguish not only the defoliation of the natural growths in and around the city but the decimation of the hills as well that not only disturbs the ecology of the area it makes living in and around a tampered hill a rather risky proposition.
It is not only water logging which must be addressed with promptness, starting with the excavation of the dead canals, but all other services shall have to geared up to make life more livable by making the efforts of all the service providers more coordinated and preplanned.
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