\\\'Take up projects to deal with water-logging in Ctg\\\'

CHITTAGONG, Sept 1: CCCI and Khatunganj Traders and Industries Association president Mahbubul Alam today urged Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud to take up projects to address water-logging problem in Khatunganj and Chaktai.
In an urgent letter to the minister, the KTIA president said Khatunganj-Chaktai is the country's biggest wholesale market for consumer goods.
The businessmen in the market suffered a huge financial loss as their imported goods in shops and warehouses were damaged by the recent floods and high tide.
He said this is a very important commercial area of the country, but it is inundated almost every year by floodwater and high tide. This area on the bank of the Karnaphuli River gets inundated every year during the monsoon, he added.
The traders cannot go to the market for days together during the inundation and as a result, their trading and selling are hampered severely. They face a huge financial loss on account of business every year, the president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.
"We want the Water Development Board to take up projects to save flood-prone Khatunganj and Chaktai," he said in the letter.
Another report adds: About 250 families have become water-logged as the high tide water engulfed the Laldiar Char area at South Patenga due to damage of the cross dam.
Ward councillor of South Patenga Saleh Ahmed Chowdhury said over 250 families at Laldiar Char have been confined to houses.
He said that the cross dam was damaged badly a few days back due to strong current of water. Water caused by high tide flooded the area by Tuesday noon.
"We have informed the city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin about the situation and he has instructed the city corporation engineers to take up steps urgently to repair the damaged parts of the cross dam," he said.
The city is experiencing continuous rain over the last three days and the rain has caused water logging coupled with high tide water inundating many low- lying areas, including Patenga, Halishahar and Khatunganj.
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