Ctg City Corporation begins cleaning canals and drains in 41 wards simultaneously 

Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has started cleaning canals and drains in 41 wards simultaneously to avert waterlogging during the upcoming monsoon season. Today (19 April), Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain inaugurated the programme by taking part in cleaning a drain in the city’s Jamalkhan Lichubagan area. 

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the mayor said that CCC has taken the initiative to clean about 1,600 km of drains this year in continuation of last year’s task. This plan will be implemented in all wards in phases. “If the drains are clean, the water will pass quickly through canals and fall into the river without obstruction,” he said.

He said last year the city’s waterlogging was reduced by 50%-60% through cleaning canals and sewerage drains. He hoped that if the concerned departments coordinate their work, the success may reach 70%-80%  this year. 

The mayor said due to the lack of awareness, city dwellers scatter waste and garbage, especially plastic and polythene products, patchily, which causes waterlogging and ushers diseases like dengue and chikungunya. He asked the residents of the city to dump waste and garbage at the designated places.

He stressed the need for strict measures to curb the use of polythene and called for an intensified drive against illegal polythene manufacturing factories. On this matter, CCC will work with the Department of Environment and the district administration magistrates. “Planned urbanisation is not possible until city government system is enacted,” he added. The mayor urged the government to take effective steps in this regard. 

CCC sources have confirmed that a plan is underway to clean approximately 500 small drains this year. Last year, 148 drains had been cleaned. The project will carry out a portion of the current tasks, while the cleaning staff will complete the rest.

The mayor instructed the concerned department to remove detached soil after the drains are cleaned. He also declared that security measures will be tightened to prevent accidents in the important canals and manholes during the rainy season. If required, fences will also be installed temporarily, he added.

Ten magistrates will supervise the entire task. At present, the regional executive officers, engineers, and cleaning supervisors are contributing to the advancement of the project. 

The mayor said that the government has already allocated Tk. 20 crore for this project. He hoped that waterlogging in the city could be reduced significantly if the total plan was implemented properly.

The mayor’s waterlogging adviser Shahriar Khaled, researcher Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, executive engineer Imran Hossain Khoka, deputy chief of cleaning Pranab Kumar Sharma, personal secretary to the mayor Ziaur Rahman Zia, Maruful Haque and other local leaders were present in the program.