Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) is set to receive a special allocation of Tk 45 crore to address persistent waterlogging in the port city ahead of the upcoming monsoon.
Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain said the quick approval reflects the government’s priority on the issue. He credited Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury for supporting the allocation.
The funds will be used for two key projects. Around Tk 25 crore will go toward removing nearly one crore cubic feet of soil and waste from 25 canals across the city. This work will be supervised by the Bangladesh Navy. Another Tk 20 crore will be spent on cleaning about 1,600 kilometres of drains under CCC and removing accumulated waste.
According to a March 31 notification from the Ministry of Finance, the allocation falls under the “City Corporation Development Assistance” sector. The directive instructs authorities to take immediate steps to implement the projects before the monsoon.
Sources within CCC say that although the directive mentions 25 canals, at least 30 canals may need cleaning to effectively reduce waterlogging. Last year, CCC received Tk 11 crore to clean 18 canals and Tk 5 crore for drain maintenance. The district administration also spent Tk 5 crore on drain cleaning.
Officials say improved maintenance last year helped reduce waterlogging compared to previous years.
Mayor Shahadat said waterlogging had long been underfunded but is now a top priority. He expressed hope that proper use of the funds will bring relief to residents. Work is expected to begin once the funds are formally released.
