Tk 1,375cr spent, yet no respite in sight

Port city residents hoped to rid themselves of waterlogging when CDA (Chattogram Development Authority) took up a mega project in 2017 with a promise to end the perennial crisis within three years.

The project tenure ended in June this year but the waterlogging woes did not. As of now, half of the project has been completed, spending around Tk 1,375 crore, according to CDA sources.

The three-year project -- titled canal re-excavation, renovation and expansion to eradicate waterlogging of Chittagong worth Tk 5,616 crore -- was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) in August 2017.

This month, its tenure has been extended to June 2022.

Meanwhile, city dwellers continue to suffer immensely since most low-lying areas go under knee- to waist-deep water every time it rains. For residents of Bakallia, Chawkbazar, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, Sholoshahar Gate No 2, Badurtala, Kapasgola, Agrabad, Port Connecting Road, Halishahar, Shulakbahar, Chandgaon, DC Road, KB Aman Ali Road, Khatunganj and Prabartak Intersection, waterlogging has become a never-ending crisis.

In the last two days, port city has seen the country's one of the largest wholesale markets of essentials, hospitals, institutions, businesses, roads and residences inundated following light to moderate rain. In addition, rain coupled with tidal surge make the matter worse for people living in the areas prone to waterlogging.

Thirty-four Engineering Brigade of Bangladesh Army has been tasked with implementing the project.

Rehena Begum Ranu, a rights activist and former councillor of Agrabad Residential Area, said her area suffers the most due to waterlogging. She said when the mega project was initiated, they were exhilarated thinking their crisis was about to end.

"But once again, the monsoon came and inundated the area. Just light to moderate rain was enough to achieve that. Seems like, the thousand crore that was spent went down the drain," she added and urged the authorities to verify whether there was any defect in the planning.

The mega project to mitigate waterlogging in port city included excavating 9.50-lakh cubic meters of mud from 36 canals, building 85km road on canal banks, constructing three flood water retaining areas, replacing 54 RCC culverts and girder bridges, constructing five tidal regulators, building 42 silt traps, expanding 15.5km side drain and building 200 cross drain culverts.

Contacted, Lt Col Md Shah Ali, CDA project director, said the implementation period of the project has been expanded to June 2022.

"We got the project in our hand a year late," he said, explaining the delay. "Also, the pandemic and land acquisition-related issues caused unwanted interruptions," he added.

The director said there were structures along the banks of canals, which were about to be excavated. "Without land acquisition, we cannot carry out the expansion of a canal, resulting in the delay of building roads along the banks," he added.

"By the end of this year, we will be able to complete construction of five tidal regulators that will protect Halishahar, Agrabad and Patenga areas from getting submerged," he assured.

He said the intensity of waterlogging in 22 areas has reduced remarkably as they have nearly completed working on 58.08km of drains there. Apart from this, they have started constructing retaining walls at 28 canals out of 36, he mentioned.

About land acquisition, Md Elias Hossen, deputy commissioner of Chattogram District Administration, said such acquisition goes through various stages. "We have issued notices as per section 3 of the land acquisition act. Then there will be estimation of land, which will have to be approved by the ministry," he added.

"We cannot do anything beyond procedure and there is no laxity on our part," he said.