No respite from Ctg waterlogging despite spending Tk 14,000cr 

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 22: The waterlogging, the curse of the city dwellers of the port city of Chattogram, has been continuing despite spending over Tk 14,000 crore under four projects taken by local authorities of the local government.  

The city has been inundated following a spell of light rain despite completion of 95 per cent works of the water-logging removal project in the city. The water-logging caused disruption in traffic movement and affecting residents-- office-goers, drivers, pedestrians, business establishments, educational institutions and hospitals of the city. 

The repeated waterlogging incidents have raised fresh concerns over the proper utilisation of fund, effectiveness of ongoing projects and the overall drainage infrastructure, with residents calling for urgent and lasting solutions to solve the problem.

Three agencies are implementing four projects worth Tk14,389 crore to address waterlogging in Chattogram city. About Tk 11,000 crore has already been spent.

These projects are: Canal re-excavation, renovation and expansion to end water logging of Chattogram being implemented by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and Bangladesh Army; Water Development Board Project and Chattogram City Corporation. These projects were undertaken in 2017.  

Among the city's 57 canals, 36 were included in a mega flood mitigation project approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in August 2017. CDA launched the initiative in April 2018, with the 34 Engineer Construction Brigade of the Bangladesh Army executing the civil works.

The project's initial budget of Tk 56.16 billion was revised in November 2023 to Tk 86.26 billion. Key features include 163km of retaining walls, 115 bridges and culverts, 27 silt traps, six regulators, and 36.87km of roads alongside the canals.  The project includes the renovation of 36 canals, the construction of drainage, girder bridges and culverts.

Ahmed Anwarul Nazrul, Chief Engineer of CDA told the Daily Observer that 95 per cent of the works have already been completed. But the authortities have sought to extend the timeline toward June 2027.

Chattogram City Corporation has taken a project of excavating a 2.9 km long from Bahaddarhat Baroipara canal to the Karnaphuli River, which was expected to ease Chattogram's devastating waterlogging problem, at a cost of cost Tk 1,343.21 crore. The aim of the project was to prevent waterlogging through canal excavation, improving the communication system and eliminating traffic congestion by constructing roads on both sides of the canal and creating new recreational facilities for the city.

Meanwhile, the Water Development Board (WDB) has taken at a cost of  Tk 1,620 crore. The construction work of the project had started in October in 2022.  Talking to the Daily Observer, Zulfiqar Tarek, Additional Chief Engineer of WDB said that at least 90 per cent of the works have so far been completed.

But it was scheduled to be completed by June 2023. He hoped that the work of the project would be completed by April in 2027 next. Under the project, there is construction of 19 km long flood wall from 15 no Ghat of the port at Patenga to the estuary of the Halda river  and construction of 23 regulators and installation of 69 pumps.

Experts said that waterlogging crisis in Chattogram cannot be solved through isolated projects. Without effective coordination in planning, implementation, and maintenance, projects will fail in the long term. Alongside infrastructure development, regular maintenance, proper waste management, and coordination among agencies are essential.

Engineer Delwar Majumder, former president of the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh's Chattogram Centre, said high tides can push seawater levels to more than five metres above sea level, while parts of the city are only two to three metres above sea level.  He said focusing on only 36 of the city's 57 remaining canals without developing the retention ponds recommended in the 1995 Master Plan would leave Chattogram vulnerable to waterlogging for years to come.

Architect Engineer Ashiq Imran, former President of Architect Institue of Chattogram Chapter told the Daily Observer, "a separate project for waste management should be initiated for proper maintenance of drains of the city." He also felt need for awareness of the city dwellers for dumping of the waste that easily dump to the drains and canals of the city.