Chittagong Bureau :
The dwellers of Chittagong city have been suffering a lot as there is no respite from the perennial water-logging in the port city due to illegal encroachment of different canals and water bodies. Many parts of the city were inundated during the light rain triggered by torrential rain or tidal surge, causing untold sufferings to the people. A number of local residents told that all existing canals (khals) within city are highly silted with household wastes and on regular tide in sea, these khals are overflowed caused sufferings to the dwellers. Sources opines if these khilals are excavated deeply, the reasons of overflowing will not arise but city corporation not gi ving attention to dig these khals first.
Some 39 canals are disappearing gradually while twelve are said to have completely disappeared in the last 46 years due to illegal occupation by land grabbers, said a recent survey conducted by the City Corporation, Local Administration and Land Office.
Besides, many water bodies and canals are shrinking due to unplanned development, causing water logging in the port city during rain. A recent survey revealed that the land grabbers are involved in occupying land by filling up water bodies and canals. The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) itself and some housing companies are allegedly involved in constructing buildings, educational institutions and business establishments illegally.
The authorities concerned of the city corporation failed to take any initiative yet to restore the canals. According to the survey, the joint team have identified 2221 people and enlisted their names for illegally occupying 39 canals but the CCC would not take any steps yet to evict them from illegal occupation.
Prof M Ali Ashraf, former chairman of Chittagong Engineers’ Institute and an urban planner, said the CCC had made a master plan on drainage system in 1969.
In 2017, a Netherland based organization conducted a survey for making a master plan on the drainage system. During the survey, they found the existence of only 22 canals out of 34 while the remaining 12 canals disappeared though the existence of 34 canals are found on the RS, CS, PS land record, said Prof Ashraf.Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, said “The illegal establishments will be evicted with the help of local administration and the Department of the Environment. Already a list has been made of illegal encroachers and there are some complexities on the list. The authorities are trying to remove the complexities at first.” City Mayor said will supervise the eviction drive against illegal occupations chairman of Chittagong Development Authority, said “CDA formulated a master plan which submitted to the government and the work will start after getting approval from concerned authorities.
The dwellers of Chittagong city have been suffering a lot as there is no respite from the perennial water-logging in the port city due to illegal encroachment of different canals and water bodies. Many parts of the city were inundated during the light rain triggered by torrential rain or tidal surge, causing untold sufferings to the people. A number of local residents told that all existing canals (khals) within city are highly silted with household wastes and on regular tide in sea, these khals are overflowed caused sufferings to the dwellers. Sources opines if these khilals are excavated deeply, the reasons of overflowing will not arise but city corporation not gi ving attention to dig these khals first.
Some 39 canals are disappearing gradually while twelve are said to have completely disappeared in the last 46 years due to illegal occupation by land grabbers, said a recent survey conducted by the City Corporation, Local Administration and Land Office.
Besides, many water bodies and canals are shrinking due to unplanned development, causing water logging in the port city during rain. A recent survey revealed that the land grabbers are involved in occupying land by filling up water bodies and canals. The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) itself and some housing companies are allegedly involved in constructing buildings, educational institutions and business establishments illegally.
The authorities concerned of the city corporation failed to take any initiative yet to restore the canals. According to the survey, the joint team have identified 2221 people and enlisted their names for illegally occupying 39 canals but the CCC would not take any steps yet to evict them from illegal occupation.
Prof M Ali Ashraf, former chairman of Chittagong Engineers’ Institute and an urban planner, said the CCC had made a master plan on drainage system in 1969.
In 2017, a Netherland based organization conducted a survey for making a master plan on the drainage system. During the survey, they found the existence of only 22 canals out of 34 while the remaining 12 canals disappeared though the existence of 34 canals are found on the RS, CS, PS land record, said Prof Ashraf.Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, said “The illegal establishments will be evicted with the help of local administration and the Department of the Environment. Already a list has been made of illegal encroachers and there are some complexities on the list. The authorities are trying to remove the complexities at first.” City Mayor said will supervise the eviction drive against illegal occupations chairman of Chittagong Development Authority, said “CDA formulated a master plan which submitted to the government and the work will start after getting approval from concerned authorities.
