Many areas of Chattogram metropolis have been flooded by rain and tidal water. Due to continuous waterlogging on Monday and Tuesday, there has been misery in public life.
According to the Engineering Core of the Armed forces Division, In-Charge of a mega project to alleviate water logging in Chattogram, main port city of the country, South-western part, at least 18 percent of the Chattogram metropolitan areas also is below sea level, which areas are inundated due to heavy rains and tides. Over the past few years, the work of multiple agencies has significantly reduced the problem of waterlogging in the relatively north-eastern part of the city.
The water of Chattogram, the country’s biggest coastal city without any planned drainage system is drained through natural canals. The water of city flow of 23 canals merge in the Karnaphuli River and three canals converge into the Halda River while the flow of the other 14 canals go into the Bay of Bengal. Many parts of the canals have become narrow by illegal occupation or filled by gavages and unapproved constructions. Due to this, waterlogging has become a chronic problem.
Apart from this, excessive rain water and mixed impact of high tide and low tide at the River Karnaphuli are one of the main reasons for water logging in the city. Chattogram received 50 mm and 60 mm of rainfall on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. At the same time, the maximum level of tide in Karnapuli river on Monday was 4.62 meters and on Tuesday it was 5.20 meters. The rainfall was moderate but the tide was relatively high, according to the meteorological office.
The Meteorological office has continued to forecast moderate rainfall in addition to maintaining warning number three as the sea is rough and windy due to low pressure. The South-western areas comparatively lower part of Chattogram has been inundated by two days of rain and tide water. Densely populated areas of the city like Agrabad, Halishahar, Rampur, and CDA residential areas were submerged under knee deep water.
Regular tidal water has been entering in the Maa o Sihu hospital the biggest hospital in the area for three days.
“The entire ground floor of the hospital was submerged twice a day. As a result, there was a stalemate in the work of general departments, children's departments, reception areas, said Nur Nabi, an official of the hospital.
Over the last one decade, the entire hospital and adjunct area has been submerged, causing extreme suffering. He added.
Multiple mega projects to alleviate water logging in Chattogram city are under implementation. Among them, the Engineering core of Bangladesh Army is implementing the biggest project, taken by Chattogram Development Authority, CDA worth Tk 5616 crore.
Under this project, 176 km of canals are being excavated with retaining walls construction and 85 km of roads are being constructed. Beside these, installation of some pumps, construction of regulators, silt taps, bridges in 40 wards, almost 90 percent areas of the city. The project will be completed by June 2022.
Lt Colonel Mohammad Shah Ali, Project Director of this project told Bangladesh Post, “although the water logging problem in Chattogram city has been gradually reduced, but the problem still remains in the areas where tidal water enters.”
Citing surveys by various organizations, at least 18 percent of the port city area is .50 meters to 2.50 meters below sea level; he said “When high tides and heavy rainwater combine in all these areas, water logging becomes evident.”
Shah Ali said, this year there are no water logging problems in Sholashahar, Muradpur, Bahaddar Hat, the north-eastern part of the city. Problems in the south-west areas, including Agrabad and Halishahar, will be reduced next year, as regulators are being installed at Mahesh Cannel to prevent entering tidal waters.
Apart from this project, there is another project under implementation by the Water Development Board at a cost of Taka 1600 crore for the removal of waterlogging.
The main project operations include the construction of a 2.7 kilometer retaining wall, 18.965 kilometer flood wall, installation of some 69 pumps, construction of 23 regulators, 1 kilometer slope protection and some 6 hectares of land acquisition.
For drainage of water in Chattogram metropolis, waste is being removed from existing canals and drains non-stop. But In a short time all the canals and drains are filled with garbage again. As a result, the government's efforts to drain the water are not working.