Ctg Port Authority starts dredging canals to ease waterlogging in city
The Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) has undertaken various initiatives, including dredging activities in various canals adjacent to the Karnaphuli River to improve navigability and remove waste to mitigate the city's persistent waterlogging problem.
Special attention is being given to canals like Rajakhali Khal and Chaktai Khal, along with other drainage points that connect the city to the Karnaphuli River.
The CPA is conducting these activities entirely through its own funding and resources, ensuring the smooth flow of water in the canals by removing plastic and non-degradable waste, according to a press release sent by CPA Secretary Mohammad Omar Faruque.
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The initiatives have been undertaken following a discussion meeting held at the Chattogram Circuit House on 19 January. The meeting was attended by government advisers, including Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Fauzul Kabir Khan, Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruq E Azam, and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.
Omar Faruque said, "Following the decisions taken in the meeting, the CPA has been playing a crucial role in addressing Chattogram's waterlogging issues by dredging the main channel of the Karnaphuli River and cleaning waste from connected canals. The port authority has been implementing a project in collaboration with the Bangladesh Navy, which has been highly successful in improving drainage conditions."
He added, "So far, 5.5 million cubic metres of dredging work has been completed under this project, which is expected to conclude in June 2025. However, even after the project's completion, the CPA aims to continue similar activities regularly to ease the lives of city residents. The primary challenge, however, lies in the waste management system within the canals—an issue beyond the CPA's jurisdiction. Without proper waste disposal by residents, the full benefits of these efforts may not be realised."
"To tackle the problem, the CPA has deployed two cutter suction dredgers from a contracted company, along with its fleet, which includes an amphibious dredger and a waste removal vessel named Bay Cleaner-1. These resources have been stationed in the project area to alleviate public suffering. It is expected that before the upcoming monsoon season, the water flow at canal entry points will be improved," he explained.
The CPA urged city residents and all stakeholders to work together by refraining from dumping waste into rivers, canals, and drains. A coordinated effort is essential to resolving Chattogram's waterlogging crisis effectively.
