Canal encroachment plays the biggest part

Encroachment of canals is the main reason that contributes to perennial waterlogging in Chittagong city, according to a survey disclosed yesterday.

To find a suitable solution to this problem, Bangladesh Environment Forum in association with Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) conducted the survey in July, studying the total number of canals in the port city and its water flow capacity.

The findings of the survey were disclosed in a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday, with environment activist Aliur Rahman in the chair.

Quoting the Drainage Master Plan formulated in 1969 by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), Aliur said there are more than 70 canals in the city.

But Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) could mention the existence of only 37 canals, he said referring to the survey. 

“The reality is 15 percent of these canals have been encroached upon -- either completely or partially,” Aliur said.

Due to heavy rainfall, different parts of the city remained under water for one-third period of 120 days from April to July, according to the written statement provided in the conference. 

The downpour burdens the city with 14 crore 58 lakh cubic feet of water.

The data provided by CCC showed that the existing 37 canals with 161 kilometers of length have the capacity of containing 10 crore cubic feet of water. The excess 4 crore 58 lakh cubic feet of water spells trouble in the rainy season.

As per the survey, the city has 33 more canals with the capacity of containing nearly 10 crore cubic feet water. If these canals are recovered from encroachers, the city's waterlogging problem would be solved, it said. 

The encroachment of Chaktai, Mohesh and Kattali canals caused the week-long waterlogging in Agrabad and CDA area recently.

The survey showed that the width of Chaktai canal is only 80 feet, which was recorded 125 feet in 1969's master plan. However, the width of the junction of Mohesh and Kattali canals was recorded as 100 feet, which is now less than 40 feet.

The remaining portions of all these canals have been encroached illegally, as per the survey.  

Engineer Ali Ashraf, Professor Dr Swapan Kumar Palit and Professor Idris Ali of the Department of Civil Engineering at Cuet, also spoke at the conference. 

The speakers urged the authorities concerned to develop a proper drainage network in the city.

Engineer Ali Ashraf said the efficiency level of existing drainage system is 60 percent.

For a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem, the drainage system should reach up to at least 90 percent of efficiency, he added.

In the conference, the speakers proposed a number of resolutions to the CCC mayor, CDA chairman, divisional commissioner, district commissioner, Chairman of Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), and the Water Development Board.

The resolutions include recovering the canals, developing efficient drainage system, establishing sluice gates where necessary, enforcing law against polluting water bodies, and raising social awareness.