CHATTOGRAM, March 12: A Tk 60 billion project taken up by Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) to resolve the waterlogging problem is being hampered due to the construction of walls in front of sluice gates of 11 canals.
The flow of water from 11 canals is likely to be hindered seriously due to the construction of these walls.
Sources said Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) had recently constructed the walls in front of sluice gates to demarcate the areas of Bay Terminal. It had already constructed five walls.
The government had already undertaken two mega projects to resolve waterlogging in Chattogram permanently. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) had taken up another project at a cost of Tk 25.95 billion. The project work started on April 24 in 2018.
Executive Engineer of BWDB Biddut Kumar Saha said, "Under the project, BWDB is constructing sluice gates and dredging the canals. The pump houses to be set up under the project in the city will control waterlogging."
"BWDB will also construct city protection wall on the right side of the River Karnaphuli under the project," he added.
Besides, Engineering Corps of the Bangladesh Army started the work of the mega project of CDA on April 24 in 2018. CDA in association with the Bangladesh Army had demolished 1,586 illegal establishments built on 21 canals.
But CPA had constructed the walls in front of sluice gates of 11 canals under the Bay Terminal project. As a result, the flow of water through sluice gates is being hampered.
CPA officials said the walls would not hamper the water flow of canals.
CPA Secretary Omar Faruuk said, "Bay Terminal is an international standard project which is being implemented to facilitate external trade and ease congestion at the country's prime seaport. There will not be anything which may hamper the water flow of canals or mega projects."
Chief Engineer of CDA Kazi Hasan Bin Shams said, "We have sent a letter to CPA to stop constructing the walls in front of sluice gates of canals. It is unfortunate that violating the engineering rules, CPA is constructing walls which will hamper the mega projects."
"CDA has approved the Bay Terminal project as they said the terminal would be constructed one kilometre away from the ring road. But CPA is now constructing the walls in front of sluice gates of canals," he added.
Officials concerned of CPA's Engineering Department, preferring anonymity, said they had received the letter from CDA earlier.
The walls were not being constructed on the side of sluice gates, they said, adding that the walls would not hamper the flow of water of canals or the mega project.
But CDA officials said if the CPA did not stop the construction of walls, the former would take action against the latter.
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