A move to mitigate waterlogging in Ctg

A four-storey building illegally constructed by the Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) on occupied land of the Chaktai Canal in Bahaddarhat has been demolished, marking a significant step towards restoring the port city's natural waterways.

The move is expected to help ease long-standing waterlogging in the area and aid in returning the canal to its original state.

As part of the ongoing waterlogging mitigation project being implemented by the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), the building was recently demolished, project officials confirmed.

The CCC had built the 793-square-foot structure -- used as the revenue office of circle-2 -- right in the middle of Chaktai Canal, one of the key drainage channels of the port city for over two decades, without obtaining clearance from the CDA.

A 2016 report by the Chattogram District Administration identified the CCC as one of the entities encroaching on the canal.

The report, obtained by The Daily Star, stated that around 48 illegal structures, including residential flats, tin-shed houses, business establishments, and warehouses, were constructed on approximately 20,000 square feet of canal land, severely choking the waterway.

The 6.9km-long Chaktai, starting from the Bahaddarhat point of the city and spanning to the Karnaphuli river, has shrivelled up noticeably due to rampant encroachment over the years.

According to the RS survey, the width of the canal used to be about 65 feet, while the BS survey mentioned it to be 61 feet. But only 10 to 30 feet can be seen now, according to the DC office report.

During a recent visit to Bahaddarhat, this correspondent observed that debris from the demolished building, including concrete and bricks, still remains at the site.

Meanwhile, the contractor of the waterlogging mitigation project, titled "Re-excavation, Expansion, Renovation, and Development of Canals to Alleviate Waterlogging in the City," has installed steel pilings along the canal bank to construct a protective retaining wall.

"Due to the construction of the building, the canal had turned into a narrow drain, and for years, even light rainfall would cause waterlogging in the area as proper drainage through the canal was obstructed," said local businessman Abir Ahmed.

Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, estate officer of the CCC, confirmed that the CDA carried out the demolition. "But we did not receive any compensation for this building as it was built on canal land," he added.

The construction work for the waterlogging mitigation project is being implemented by the 34th Engineer Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army.

Lt Col Md Ferdous Ahmed, the project director, said, "We have already removed the structure from the canal. Since it was built on illegally encroached land, we were not required to provide any compensation to the CCC."

The other structures built on the canal will be demolished also as part of the drive to free up the waterbody, said officials.

The CDA is implementing the project to address the city's waterlogging, involving the re-excavation and renovation of 36 canals.