Temporary dams, prolonged sufferings

Temporary dams in the canals made by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) as part of implementing a mega project to address waterlogging in the port city have worsened the waterlogging problem.

Locals alleged that there was no waterlogging in their areas before the dams were built in the canals. But now, all it takes is a little rain to inundate different areas.

Mohammed Yousuf, a resident of Bahaddarhat area, said, "We have been suffering from waterlogging since a dam was set up in the canal."

At a recent coordination meeting, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), demanded the removal of the dams. According to sources, the mayor repeatedly appealed to the CDA in this regard.

During a recent visit to the bank of Chashma canal of the port city, this correspondent saw that multiple dams have been set up in the canal from Sholashahar area of the city to Bahaddarhat.

According to CDA data, there are 56 canals in the port city, but work is underway in 36 canals under a project to mitigate waterlogging. CDA is implementing the Tk 6,000-crore project in association with the army.

But the project implementing agency does not have an accurate estimate of the number of temporary dams in these canals.

Asked, Lt Col Shah Ali, director of the project, said, "They started removing the dams from the canal before monsoon."

Though the time of the project, launched in 2018, got an extension of two years in 2020, the authorities will need two more years to complete it, as 60 percent works of the project has been completed so far.

But he claimed that work to implement the project, which remained hamstrung for a year due to multifarious problems, including the coronavirus outbreak, is going on in full gear now.

Delwar Majumder, former president of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), Chattogram Centre, said when it rains, the city's water cannot drain into the canals because of the dams. As a result, even during light rain, water accumulates up to the knees in different areas.

"The canal dams should have been removed before monsoon to save people of the port city from waterlogging," he added.