The first heavy rainfall this season has once again brought suffering to Chittagong, with at least 20 areas including Probortok, Chawkbazar and Agrabad going under knee-to-chest-deep water, paralysing life in this city. The issue was raised in parliament by a lawmaker from Chittagong on Wednesday, upon which Prime Minister Tarique Rahman apologised to the residents of Chittagong gfor the hardship caused by waterlogging. Thev PM rightly pointed out that the solution to the problem lies in the government's nation-wide canal re-excavation programme.
Subsequently, in a show of seriousness in addressing the issue, the government sent the State Minister for Local Government to witness the situation firsthand. However, upon returning, the State Minister told the House that there had been no waterlogging in the Chittagong city during the rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday, claiming that only "water congestion" occurred at five locations. He even blamed the media and social media for circulating old pictures. But locals, unhappy with the minister's remarks, say that many areas of the city had been under water for two days prior to his visit, and that the water had largely receded by the time he arrived.
That the minister didn't witness the problem doesn't negate the reality on the ground; rather, his comments give the impression that the he is either downplaying the issue or abdicating responsibility.
The fact is that the problem has been decades in the making, and no one is blaming the present government, which has been in office for only a couple of months. Successive governments have neglected Chittagong or paid lip service to its civic issues, while encroachers and land grabbers have steadily occupied its surrounding wetlands for developing housing projects.
Waterlogging is witnessed elsewhere in Bangladesh as well, particularly in Dhaka, but Chittagong's issues of urban flooding are unique in many ways as it is exacerbated by climatic condition, bad urban planning and unchecked encroachment. The climate of Chittagong is tropical in nature, which is characterized by high temperatures, heavy seasonal rainfall, and high humidity. In Bangladesh, the maximum rainfall is recorded in Sylhet and coastal areas of Chittagong. This climatic condition, however, existed there for centuries, while waterlogging has been an issue for the last two decades.
Many claim that natural factors such as intense rainfalls and simultaneous high tides in Karnaphuli River during full moon trigger the waterlogging in Chittagong. That apart, the problem is compounded by a host of man-made factors. For example, the city was once dotted with many small and large ponds that served as a reservoir for rainwater. But over the decades, the majority of those ponds have been wiped off the map in the name of progress for building infrastructures like residential buildings, shopping malls, and schools. As a result, rainwater has no escape, causing waterlogging on roads, while houses, shops, and offices on street level are inundated.
Re-excavation of canals may help alleviate the problem, but proper monitoring is necessary to keep the canals free of siltation and waste. Cutting of hills for constructing roads or housing often leads the sandy soil to roll down to drains and canals with rainwater, eventually clogging them. Installing silt traps at the entrance of drains and canals could help mitigate the problem.
Chittagong is the lifeline of the country's economy as over 80 per cent of import and export takes place through the Chittagong seaport. So, when the port city sinks, the economy sinks. For example, when goods get spoiled in Khatunganj, the largest wholesale market in the country, it has a domino effect on the prices of goods across the country. The government therefore would be advised to address the city's long-standing problem with the seriousness it deserves.
aktuhin.fexpress@gmail.com
