City will be freed from the curse of waterlogging: CCC Mayor

The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has taken permanent and integrated initiatives to solve the long-standing waterlogging problem of Chattogram City, said City Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain. He said that instead of temporary or immediate measures, a permanent solution is being ensured to free the city residents from the curse of waterlogging.

During a site visit to Mirza Canal in Muzaffar Nagar on Saturday (January 3), the Mayor directly observed the current condition of the canal, water flow, encroachment and waste management. He also gave necessary directions to the concerned officials.

The Mayor said that this year, waterlogging in the city has reduced a lot compared to the previous monsoon season. However, due to ongoing projects in some areas, water has temporarily accumulated. To understand the matter, he himself cleaned the drains and found the source of the problem. After that, it became clear that the problem cannot be solved through temporary solutions, a permanent solution is needed here.

The canal excavation work in Chattogram city has already started. The mayor said that 36 canals in the city are being excavated by the 34th Engineering Brigade of the army. In addition, regular communication is being maintained with the concerned ministries regarding the renovation and excavation of canals outside the scope of this project. The Chattogram City Council will also implement the excavation and renovation work of the remaining canals on its own initiative. He also said that about 1,600 kilometers of drains in the city are being developed under the initiative of the Chattogram City Council. If these projects are fully implemented, the capacity of water drainage will increase rapidly and waterlogging in Chattogram will be permanently resolved.

The mayor has announced a strict position on canal encroachment. He said that no one will get through by encroaching on canals. The canals of the city are important as the lifeblood of the city. Many of the places where there is illegal encroachment have been evicted and the rest will also be identified and legal action will be taken.

The mayor urged the city residents not to throw garbage in canals and drains, as this is one of the main reasons for waterlogging. It is not possible for the Chattogram City Corporation alone to solve this problem, awareness among citizens is essential. Wherever waste is dumped, development activities will be disrupted and waterlogging will return.

Officials from the Engineering and Cleanliness Department of the Chattogram City Corporation and local residents were present during the inspection.