Solution to water stagnation in the Chtitagong city remains elusive when most of the city areas go under water even after a brief shower and the water lies stagnant because of poor drainage.
\nThe recent downpour, like the previous ones, sent the low-lying city areas including Halishahar Housing Estate, CDA Residential Area, Agrabad Residential Area, Bakalia, Muradpur, Bahadderhat, Chawkbazar, Muradpur, Chaktai-Khatunganj under ankle to knee-deep water.
\nThe city mayor, M Manjur Alam, told New Age that the recent water stagnation worsened further because of flash flood accompanied by tidal surge.
\nHe also blamed the falling navigability in the River Karnaphuli and the city canals for the persisting water stagnation.
\nTerming it a longstanding problem, Manjur said solution to the problem would not be possible overnight. \u2018We can only reduce the problem to a tolerable limit,\u2019 he said.\u00a0\u00a0
\nThe hills of Chittagong city are sandy and the downpour washes down the sand and household garbage to the canals.
\nRiver Karnaphuli, canals including Chaktai and Mahesh have to be dredged to get rid of the problem, observed the mayor.
\nAccording to sources in the Chittagong Development Authority, a plan namely \u2018Chittagong Storm Water Drainage and Food Control Master Plan\u2019 was adopted by the authority in 1994.
\nBut even after 17 years, the plan has not yet seen the light of the day, the mayor said.
\nAKM Fazlullah, managing director of the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority, said there should have well coordination among all stakeholders including CWASA, CCC and CDA.
\nA project titled \u2018Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project; has been adopted by the CWASA, he informed, expressing hope that water stagnation in the city would be reduced to a great extent after the implementation of the project.
\nThe CDA chairman, Abdus Salam, suggested that to address the problem new canals should be excavated.
\n\u2018More than 50 per cent of the Chaktai canal, the major carrier of city wastes into the river, has already been grabbed,\u2019 he said.
\nSalam, however, avoided talking about the present state of the city drainage master plan.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u2018Only approving building plans has become the sole business of the CDA,\u2019 said architect Zerina Hossain, vice-president of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan, adding that the number of water bodies, which retain most of the rain water, has reduced to a great extent.
\nThere is no research and integrated plan to address city water stagnation while everything is done on an ad hoc basis, she added.
\n\u2018Chittagong city can boast of wonderful natural drainage system. It is the only city where there are hills, forest and sea. But it is a matter of regret that the city is fast losing its natural drainage system for inadequate maintenance of canals and drains. The authorities concerned should take precautionary measures before the advent of rainy season. Besides, the city dwellers should not throw their household wastes into the drains,\u2019 said Rashidul Hasan, lecturer in the department of urban and regional planning at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology.<\/p>\n

-With New Age<\/span> input<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Solution to water stagnation in the Chtitagong city remains elusive when most of the city areas go under water even after a brief shower and the water lies stagnant because of poor drainage. The recent downpour, like the previous ones, sent the low-lying city areas including Halishahar Housing Estate, CDA Residential Area, Agrabad Residential Area, … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[209,1072,3262,6533,6532,1569,5807,6531,6530],"yoast_head":"\n