Fund, land crises hold back Ctg canal digging

Over two years have already gone by, but the implementation of a canal digging project in the port city is yet to begin.

With the aim of mitigating the city's perennial water-logging problem, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) undertook the initiative to dig the 3km-long canal from Bahaddarhat Baroipara to the Karnaphuli river.

The project approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council on June 24, 2014, was set to be implemented between July, 2014 and June, 2017.    

The authorities could not make any headway with it for various reasons including fund shortage and difficulties in land acquisition, according CCC sources.

The estimated cost of the project is about Tk326.84 crore.

The government is supposed to provide about Tk245.13 crore, while the rest will come from CCC's own fund, said the sources, adding that the city corporation got around Tk3.75 crore as allocation in FY 2015-16.

Some 25 acres of land have hitherto been acquired to dig the canal, and the estimated cost of land acquisition is around Tk224.16 crore, mentioned the CCC sources.

Apart from footpaths, there should be  two roads, each 20 feet wide, on both banks of the canal pursuant to the project plan.  Asked about the delay in starting the excavation work, CCC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kazi Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the land acquisition is a difficult process, and for this it is taking time, adding that they have to make some corrections to the earlier alignment of the canal since there are various establishments on the proposed routes.

CCC Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin said a digital survey on the land acquisition has been done by the city corporation and district administration.

Steps will be taken to acquire lands once the survey report is found, he added.

The mayor said they are giving top priority to the project and hoped to start the excavation work this year.

The government allocated Tk60 crore for the project in this fiscal year, Nasir informed.