Awful drainage brings woe for Kuakata municipality

Kuakata municipality in Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali suffers severe waterlogging during the rains every year, thanks to the abysmal drainage system in the famous tourist centre.

Heavy rains in the last few days flooded most of the areas of the municipality including its temporary offices, internal roads, hotels and dwelling houses.

The stagnant water mixed with dirty garbage poses the risk of an outbreak of waterborne diseases and mosquito menace, said locals.

Seedbeds, vegetable fields and the fish enclosures are being affected too.

Kuakata municipality was formed in 2010 to enhance the quality of life of locals and ensure quality service for tourists from home and abroad.

In the last 10 years, only 4 km of paved drainage, out of a total 14 km, has been constructed in the municipal area while the work in Ward No 3 area got suspended at the initial stage in last March allegedly due to lack of coordination between the municipal mayor and councillor.

Municipal officials said unplanned construction of multi-storied buildings and concrete set-ups without leaving drainage system is responsible for the waterlogging problem.

The canals and reservoirs disappeared with the increase of the municipality area, said Wahid Ibrahim, a resident of Ward 3.

Development according to a master plan is required to save the people of Kuakata from permanent waterlogging, said Hossain Amir, another local resident.

Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, managing director of Hilsa Park Eco Resort, said the park and its surrounding area remained under two-feet water for the past week and it has caused extensive damage to the plants and fish there.

"Due to the lack of coordination of the municipal mayors and councillors, the citizens are not getting the expected civic amenities including a functional drainage system even ten years after the formation of the municipality," he said.

Shah Alam, councillor of Ward 3, said, "Kuakata municipality office, several multi-storied houses and hotels are located in this ward. When the mayor decided to do the drain construction work with soil cutting machine, I requested him to do it with workers as use of machines would cause damage to several buildings."

"But the municipal mayor decline and stopped the work. As a result, waterlogging occurs even with a moderate rain," he added.

Asked about these issues, Mayor Abdul Barek Mollah said, "The work for a planned 14-km drainage system is suspended for the time being due to rains. When the Tk 44-crore project work is completed, the waterlogging problem will be solved."