The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) is going to implement a project with an estimated cost of Taka11.86 crore for the digging of the Mayur and Khude rivers to remove water logging from the city streets during rainy season.
Of the rivers, Tk 7.59 crore will be spend for digging Mayur and Taka 4.27 crore for the Khude rivers.
“The digging works will begin in the last week of this month. Works of layout plan and pre-survey for digging the rivers is going on, an official of the KCC told BSS today.
Under the management of drainage development project for removing of water logging from the city streets, KCC has taken the project last year. It was sent to the ECNEC for approval last year and KCC has started digging activities after passing the project by ECNEC this year, said the official.
In 2014, the government has allocated Taka 5.78 crore for digging 5,900 meters in view to smooth removing of rain water to save the city from water logging. The digging works was began on February 3 in that year.
The then KCC authorities led by BNP backed Mayor Moniruzzaman Moni stopped the digging works before ended it by November 10 in 2015, the official alleged, adding that the contractor has already been received the allotted money.
KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque said, the then KCC authority misappropriated the government money without completing the digging of Mayur River.
“As per my election pledge, I will begin the project for removing water logging from the city streets before coming the rainy season.
The ECNEC has allocated Taka 823 crore for the development of drainage management for removing water logging before I have taken charge as KCC Mayor on September 25, 2018. Under the project, the digging of two rivers will begin this month, he said.
Replying a question, the Mayor said, I have taken initiative to publish a white paper after probing the allegations of misappropriation of government money in Mayur River digging works during the tenure of the previous mayor.
“In my previous tenure as KCC Mayor, I have taken initiative to make water logging free Khulna city through evacuated illegal establishments from grabbers of 22 canals of KCC. I could not complete my tasks as the vested quarter gunned down Shahid Iqbal Bither, the then convener of illegal establishment evacuation committee and councilor of ward number 24 of the KCC.
Chief Engineer of the KCC and Project Director Monjurul Islam said, “we have started the work of digging five months back but we delayed to issue the work order to the contractor due to rainy season,”.
He hoped that city dwellers will get relief from the long standing water logging problem of the city and will look green and clean after completing the project.