The mayor said collaborative efforts last year managed to reduce waterlogging in Ctg by 50% to 60%.
CCC Mayor Shahadat was personally removing waste from a drain. Photo: TBS
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CCC Mayor Shahadat was personally removing waste from a drain. Photo: TBS
The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched a ‘crash programme’ to mitigate the city’s waterlogging crisis, with an extensive drain and canal cleaning drive in the Bakalia area today (21 April).
CCC Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain inspected the drive, where he was seen personally removing waste from a drain to underscore the urgency of the campaign.
During the inspection, the mayor noted that collaborative efforts last year managed to reduce waterlogging in Chattogram by 50% to 60%. He credited this progress to better coordination between various service-oriented agencies.
However, the mayor expressed concern over the current state of the city’s drainage system. “Most of the city’s drains and canals are still being clogged with waste. Despite repeated awareness campaigns, many people continue to dump refuse indiscriminately,” he said after reviewing the situation in several wards over the past few days.
With the monsoon season approaching, the CCC is prioritising low-lying areas prone to flooding, including: South Bakalia, West Bakalia, Bazar Podarhat, Agrabad and Mohora to prevent waterlogging. “Our goal is to ensure that no citizen remains waterclogged,” the mayor said.
Calling for greater civic responsibility, he said, “Keeping the city clean requires collective effort. A permanent solution to waterlogging is not possible without public participation.”
Mayor Shahadat issued a stern warning against illegal encroachments and the dumping of waste into canals. He stated that legal action will be taken against offenders to ensure the natural flow of the drainage system.
Addressing shopkeepers, he urged them to ensure that the fronts of their shops remain clean and free of unauthorised hawkers.
He further said that CCC has already distributed approximately 6,000 dustbins across the city. But many have been stolen or are not being used correctly adding that necessary steps would be taken to address the issue.
CCC officials said the cleaning drive will continue throughout the monsoon season to ease public suffering by reducing waterlogging in the city.
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