Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Shahadat Hossain has formed six separate committees to bolster coordinated initiatives aimed at resolving the city’s long-standing waterlogging issues.
The decision was reached during a coordination meeting held on Monday at the CCC office in Tigerpass. Highlighting the current state of various canals, drains, culverts, and connecting channels in flood-prone areas, Shahadat issued directives for immediate measures.
These committees, comprising personnel from the engineering department, cleaning wing, and ward-based supervisors, have been tasked with conducting rapid field-level operations.
Supervision and coordination
The overall activities of the formed committees will be supervised by CCC Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Md Ashraful Amin; Chief Cleaning Officer Captain Ikhtiar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury; and Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman.
These officials have also been entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating with WASA, while Engineer Delwar Majumdar will provide engineering advice.
Specific committees have also been designated for the Hijra, Jamal Khan, Rampur, Gulzar, and Monohordi canals, as well as the Chandgaon-Muradpur area. The mayor instructed relevant officials to visit these sites personally, identify the problems, and implement swift solutions.
Identifying obstructions
“There is no further scope for negligence in mitigating the city’s waterlogging. We must quickly identify and resolve issues, such as blocked canals or drains,” Shahadat said.
He specifically highlighted waterlogging concerns in Chaktai, Muradpur, Rampura Khal, Azam Pahar Khal, Gauchiya Road, Rupsa Bakery area, Gulzar Khal, and Madarbari.
The mayor noted that construction materials dumped in many canals and drains are obstructing the flow of water and ordered their immediate removal.
Emphasising the hardships faced in the Rampura and Azabbahar canal areas, he directed that public movement must be restored, at least temporarily, before the onset of the monsoon.
Strict monitoring of cleanliness
Shahadat also took a firm stance regarding cleaning activities, announcing that the attendance and performance of workers across all 41 wards would be directly monitored. He warned that disciplinary action would be taken in cases of neglect.
To support the staff, he announced the provision of 3,000 raincoats for cleaning workers and the potential recruitment of new personnel if required.
Senior CCC officials, regional executive officers, engineers, and representatives from the cleaning department were present at the meeting and provided their recommendations.
