The Chittagong City Corporation has started re-excavating Chaktai Khal, the major canal of the city, with the port city experiencing inundation during the last week’s downpour.
Different points of the city’s major canal were filled with wastes and the rain water could not pass through it, sending most part of the city under water and causing severe water-stagnation.
Chief executive officer of the city corporation Anwara Begum visited the excavation sites on Saturday and expressed satisfaction over the pace of work and gave necessary direction for completing the work as soon as possible.
She also exchanged views with the local people and urged them not to dump domestic wastes in the canals.
Talking to New Age, Anwara Begum said as Chaktai Khal was one of the major canals of the city and a bulk portion of city water flows down to the River Karnaphuli through this canal, so the canal was excavated ahead of rainy season to address the water-stagnation in the low-lying areas.
However, during the downpour the canal was filled with wastes and mud and it obstructed the flow of water, inundating major portion of the city and causing immense sufferings to the city people, she added.
In the fiscal year 2011-2012, the CCC excavated 16 major canals of the city including Chaktai Khal, Raja Khal, Mohesh Khal, Nasir Chhara Khal, Goynar Chhara Khal, Chashma Khal, Doam Khal, Shital Jharna Khal, Mirza Khal, Baman Shahi Khal, Noya Khal, Birja Khal, Khandakia Chhara Khal, Hizra Khal and Kazir Khal in 41 wards of the city, Anwara informed, adding that more than 500 workers were involved for four months in the excavation works.
She also said about 1.25 lakh tonnes of earth was removed from the canals and drains during the excavation works.
She stressed the need for raising awareness among the city people about not dumping wastes into the canals and drains to get rid of water-stagnation.