Arbitrary use of plastic polythene and slow down of mega projects in the rainy season — Mayor Rezaul Karim

SD Life:

Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Bir Muktijoddha Alhaj M. commented that lack of coordination and civic awareness bring curses in the life of the citizens. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.

Talking to reporters at his residence in Bahaddarhat on Friday afternoon, he added that concerted initiatives and civic awareness are a prerequisite for building a smart city. I think it is necessary to coordinate the work of all the organizations and institutions involved in the development work even before the City Corporation assumes the responsibility of serving the people of Chittagong metropolis as the elected representative of the people in the face of financial difficulties, development work crisis and global epidemic. Lack of coordination is a waste of people’s money and time, increasing the suffering of citizens. As a result, people have a negative attitude towards government service agencies, a crisis of confidence and an attitude of non-cooperation.

As soon as I took over the responsibility, I continued my routine work in the 100 day work plan and started patchwork by giving priority to some more urgent service work. Cleaning activities are given more importance along with mosquito eradication, development of waste disposal management, rehabilitation and lighting of dilapidated roads, bringing dynamism in the service scope of Chasik and feasibility study and feasibility study for implementation of income generating projects.

Waterlogging and submergence in high rainfall and tidal water is a long standing problem in Chittagong. To solve this problem, Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sincerely stood by the people of Chittagong and approved mega projects.

The cost of the mega project being implemented by the Chittagong Development Authority has been estimated at Tk 5,618.49 crore. The project is being implemented directly by the Engineering Brigade of the Bangladesh Army. The project, which started in July 2016, was supposed to be completed in June 2020, but the work was not completed and was extended by one year till 2021. The work has not been completed yet. Almost every major canal and drainage canal in the city has dams in place and construction of switch gates and tidal water regulator systems at the junction of canals and rivers is incomplete. So long before the onset of the monsoon season, I feared that the water that had stopped flowing in a short period of time could submerge the city’s alleys, alleys and roads and enter homes, causing indescribable misery. We therefore requested the CDA to temporarily and expeditiously remove the dams at various places in the canals for the monsoon season and to further widen the temporary paths to draw water out of the mouths of the canals. For whatever reason, this was not done or was not possible for them to do, so most of the city was submerged in the first downpour of the season. Development in rainwater also sand, soil, waste and sewage from construction works fall into the canal and freeze, remove it on an emergency basis within a few hours and cut some dams to make way for water flow. As a result, the level of suffering did not increase. However, due to heavy rains, water is still accumulating in different parts of the city, water is not being removed quickly.

Pointing to the frozen water in front of his house, he said that the water could not be removed in 12 to 16 hours, even in 24 hours. Civilian suffering there has reached extreme levels. Regular cleaning operations in Chasik show that one third of the waste consists of polythene and plastic products. People are unknowingly throwing these wastes in the canals. As a result, waste of polythene and plastic products has become an obstacle in eliminating waterlogging and drainage. At such a time, these plastic products and polythene are a big obstacle in the dredging work to keep Chittagong city free from waterlogging, protect the environment and restore the flow of Karnafuli river. We want to stop the production of polythene in phases to save rivers and cities from the terrible aggression of polythene. Chasik has to cooperate from all quarters in this regard.

Lastly, let us all consciously cooperate to make our city safe, beautiful, clean and world class. Extend a helping hand to the work of the City Corporation. I will build ‘my city, my pride’ all at once. ‘