KCC mayor vows to free up canals

Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque yesterday vowed to free all 22 canals of the city from encroachment, and urged all stakeholders to help the upcoming eviction drive, after mapping and demarcation of the canals.

He said due to unabated encroachment of canals, water-logging has become a problem of Khulna city. Air and water pollution are causing public nuisance due to stagnant water in the canals.

He made the remarks after a visit to the 22 canals of KCC area, accompanied by high officials of KCC and journalists.

“City dwellers want to get relief from this public hazard, and I am assuring them to resume the eviction drive,” the mayor said. “After taking charge of KCC, I took a project of Tk 843 crore to solve water-logging and free these canals,” he told reporters.

Of the canals in the city, Nirala canal, Mohirbari canal, Labonchara canal, Mandar canal, Khudier canal, Khetrokhali canal, Nobinagar canal, Gallamari North canal, Batkamari canal, Arongghata canal, Deana Chowdhury canal, Bastuhara canal, Taltola canal, Kaderer canal, Chorichora canal, Kholabaria canal, Narkelbaria canal, Harintana canal, Motiakhali canal, Mohirbari canal and Mathabhanga canal have already been grabbed.

The Daily Star published a report on the state of the canals in the city on January 25, titled “Khulna canals in peril”.

Md Helal Uddin, Deputy Commissioner of Khulna; Ehsan Shah, deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police; Khandoker Azim Ahmad, zonal settlement officer; Md Nazmul Haq, chief engineer of Water Development Board; SM Habib, president of Khulna Press Club; and Abdur Rahman, chief revenue officer of KCC; were present during the mayor's visit.