Public awareness key to resolving waterlogging: Ctg mayor

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Shahadat Hossain has said that without public awareness, it will not be possible to resolve the persistent waterlogging problem in Chattogram city.

As part of a month-long drive to clean drains and canals, the city corporation has intensified its "crash programme" across different wards and the mayor personally inspected the ongoing activities today (27 April).

In the morning, he visited the cleaning work at the Bundle Canal area behind JM Sen School in Ward 33 Firingi Bazar. He later inspected similar operations at Badr Canal (Islam Colony) in Ward 34 Pathorghata and in the South Middle Pitamborshah area under Ward 35 Boxirhat.

During the inspection, the mayor said that drains across the city have turned into dumping grounds due to piles of waste, which is one of the main causes of waterlogging.

"Some irresponsible traders and local residents are dumping waste indiscriminately, effectively turning drains into garbage disposal sites. If this continues, no initiative will be sustainable," he said.

Emphasising the importance of civic responsibility, he added, "This city belongs to all of us. Without citizens' awareness, waterlogging cannot be resolved. Households and businesses must use dustbins and dispose of waste at designated locations."

He also expressed concern over incidents of dustbin theft and urged local representatives and political leaders to strengthen monitoring.

Speaking about sanitation workers, the mayor said they are the "silent warriors" of the city and improving their living standards is a priority. He added that a housing project is underway to ensure safe and healthy accommodation for them.

According to the revised plan, the total project cost has been set at Tk309.35 crore, up from the earlier estimate of Tk231.42 crore. The increase is attributed to the rate schedule update from 2023 and higher construction costs under a revised design.

Due to space constraints, one of the two planned buildings in the Bundel Colony will instead be constructed on CCC-owned land in Ward 30 East Madarbari. As relocation of residents in the project area is taking time, the project deadline has been extended to December 2027.

Under the project, a total of 1,036 flats will be built across seven buildings, each with an approximate size of 600 square feet.

Officials present during the inspection included CCC Chief Conservancy Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Chowdhury, Deputy Chief Conservancy Officer Pranab Kumar Sharma, Malaria and Mosquito Control Officer Shariful Islam Mahi, and the mayor's aides Ziaur Rahman Zia and Maruful Haque Chowdhury, among others.