CCC to re-excavate 22 canals to remove waterlogging

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) will re-excavate at least 22 canals including the Chaktai canal soon as part of its efforts to free the city from severe waterlogging.
The CCC has also undertaken a plan to repair the existing drainage system so that the rainwater could recede fast.
The CCC has allocated Tk 4.50 crore to re-excavate and renovate 22 canals, Tk 2.40 crore for construction of roads on both sides of the bank of the Chaktai canal and Tk 1.37 crore for removing the sediments from the bed of Chaktai canal.
A meeting of the CCC held on Wednesday approved a number of schemes for the re-excavation of canals and improving the drainage system of the city.
Submerging of residential and commercial establishments in most areas of the city for three times in last four months following downpour caused untold sufferings to the city dwellers and resulted in huge economic loss.
Imported foodgrains, other valuable goods and export items and machinery worth about Tk 500 crore were damaged as rainwater mixed with dirty mud submerged the warehouses, mills and factories in most part of the city.
Urban planners said as the rainwater could not recede speedily after the rainfall severe waterlogging and inundation of the large part of the city causes sufferings to the dwellers.
Abu Saleh, superintendent engineer of the CCC said tenders for constructing roads on both banks of the Chaktai canal has already been floated and bid for other projects are in the process.
The CCC has a plan to complete the re-excavation and renovation works of 22 canals within next winter season, he said.
The canals which will be re-excavated include Mirza Khal in Chandgaon, Sitaljorna of Panchlaish, Chashma Khal in Nasirabad, Izarakhal of Panchlaish, Chatlarshori Khal, Kazir Khal, Badarkhali Naola, Bamunshahi Khal, Chaktai diversion Khal and Sayed Shah Khal.
The CCC had built retaining walls on both sides of the 4.9 km long Chaktai canal to resist encroachment and concrete carpeting of its bed to save the canal from erosion by spending Tk 22.5 crore during the last 5 years.