Denied of civic amenities despite paying taxes

A home to around two lakh people, South Pahartali area under ward-1 within Chattogram City Corporation is grappling with a severe lack of civic amenities.

Modern drainage and proper waste management systems, wider roads, and functioning streetlights remain elusive for its residents, despite decades of appeals to the authorities.

The persistent neglect by officials concerned has left the inhabitants with no choice but to resort to throwing waste in open spaces and water bodies, as there are no designated spots for disposal.

Adding to their frustration, residents are compelled to pay city taxes without getting any benefits in return, said Mohammed Harun, a resident of the ward's North Fatehabad area.

"The streetlights on our area road are currently dysfunctional. After repeated requests to the ward councillor, the authorities fixed some of the lights, but they became dysfunctional again within a short time."

Other residents this correspondent talked to echoed the same.

Covering approximately 24 square kilometres, the dire situation continues to paint a grim picture for the ward's inhabitants, who yearn for a better quality of life.

While visiting the ward, this correspondent saw a canal near the councillor office filled with household waste.

Many residents had resorted to connecting their sewage lines directly to the canal due to the absence of a proper waste dumping zone and sanitation system.

Mahbubul Alam, a resident of Chowdhuryhat area, said, "We are forced to throw garbage and sewage into canals as there is no dumping zone."

Moreover, the lack of a modern drainage system leads to waterlogging in various parts of the ward, even after a drizzle.

 Kamruzzam, a resident of Sandwip Colony area, said, "We have to depend on tube wells for drinking water as there is no water supply system."

During a visit to Fatehabad City Corporation College Road within the ward, this correspondent observed that the road's narrowness allowed only one truck to pass through at a time, leading to frequent traffic congestion.

Anik Acharjee from Acharjee Para said, "This narrow road is regularly used by heavy vehicles, which often block the road."

Besides, many areas of the ward suffer from inadequate street lighting, forcing residents to rely on outdoor lamps while walking at night. The dysfunctional streetlights due to a lack of proper maintenance remain a persistent issue.

Mohammed Hossain of Mahmudabad area said, "The streetlights on our area road are currently dysfunctional. After repeated requests to the ward councillor, the authorities fixed some of the lights, but they became dysfunctional again within a short time."

Contacted, Ward Councillor Gazi Shafiul Azim, admitted to the claims made by locals.

"We have already selected land for a dumping ground and have also written to the higher authorities to bring the ward under the sewerage system," he said.

According to CCC, Chittagong Municipality was formed in 1863. In 1977, the government changed the name of Chittagong Municipality to Chittagong Pourashava.

Since then, the South Pahartali ward has been under their jurisdiction.