Install tidal regulators

To reap benefit of the mega project, “Re-excavation Renovation and Development of Khal (canal) for mitigating Waterlogging Problems in Chittagong City”, speakers at a coordination meeting yesterday urged the Water Development Board (WDB) to set up tidal regulators within 2020.

The meeting was organised by Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) at its auditorium in the port city.

The Tk 5,616 crore project was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) in August last year. It will be completed by June 2020. CDA, which prepared the project DPP (detail project proposal), is in charge of its implementation.

In April this year, CDA signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh Army, which started the re-excavation work from April 28.

Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain said CDA will set up 12 tidal regulators while Bangladesh Army 5.

The city requires another 23 regulators, which will be installed by WDB, said the minister, also convenor of the project monitoring body.

WDB representatives informed the meeting that their project has been approved at a pre-Ecnec meeting. It is now awaiting Ecnec approval and once approved, it will be executed by 2021.

The minister advised WDB to reschedule their time frame so that the mega project and construction of the regulators complete at the same time.

“If the mega project is executed in due time but the tidal regulators are not, we will not be able to mitigate the waterlogging crisis as tidal surges will continue to submerge parts of the city,” he said.

Lt Col Rejaul Karim, project director, said they have started their work by dividing the canals in two categories -- primary and secondary. Bangladesh Army will re-excavate 36 canals deemed important, he added.

Abdus Salam, chairman of CDA, and Amena Begum, additional commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, were also present at the meeting.