'I inherited waterlogging'

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin at a programme yesterday said the city's waterlogging problem has not popped up in his tenure.

It is a longstanding issue, he said, adding, "I inherited waterlogging."

He was speaking at the presentation ceremony of "Feasibility study report on flood control and waterlogging management" done by Powerchina International, a state-owned Chinese organisation, at CCC conference room. 

Terming the waterlogging problem one of the main woes of the city, Nasir said he chalked out both short-term and long-term plans to address the problem after taking charge as the mayor.

As part of short-term initiatives, drains and canals are being cleaned on a regular basis and earth of the canals is also being lifted to increase the navigability, he said. For a permanent solution, the mayor said, he has requested water resources ministry, which has taken a project awaiting the government approval.

In addition, the feasibility study by the Chinese organsiation was done for finding a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem, the mayor said. 

To complete the process, including formulation of Development Project Proposal, it will require about a year, he said, adding that three more years would be needed to complete the project from the date of the start of the work.

The estimated cost of the project will be about Tk 5,000 crore and it will be implemented on a government-to-government (G-2-G) basis with China, said the mayor.

“If the project is implemented, there will be a permanent solution to the waterlogging problem,” he hoped.

Pan Deng Yu, vice president of Powerchina Eurasia, and Han Kun, business development manager of the organisation, delivered a power point presentation.