Waterlogging, traffic management top priority

With the Comilla City Corporation polls approaching, two prominent mayoral aspirants promise to address the city problems, if elected.   

BNP's candidate and former mayor Monirul Hoque Shakoo and ruling Awami League (AL)-nominated aspirant Anjum Sultana Sima underscored that waterlogging and traffic indiscipline are the main problems of the city, and have vowed to resolve the problems if they are voted to power.

The duo said they would give the highest priority to the issues in their election manifestos.

They were separately talking to The Daily Star at their residences in Comilla on March 9.

Comilla municipality was upgraded to city corporation in July, 2011, aiming to enhance the quality of civic facilities. The maiden Comilla City Corporation polls were held in January, 2012.

Monirul Hoque Shakoo was the first mayor of the city, while Sima was elected a ward councillor. The city will go to polls for a second time on March 30. Some 2.07 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise.

Talking about waterlogging, Shakoo claimed during his tenure he had undertaken many development activities that include resolving the long-standing waterlogging problem.

“But I could not complete the task due to several setbacks. But I promise to finish it if I am re-elected,” he said.

“I have improved the drainage system and constructed sufficient drains inside the city. But the problem is water can't recede as the exit points of many drains are blocked,” Shakoo said.

It needs initiating a mega plan in and around the city to mitigate waterlogging, he said, adding that the cooperation from other government departments is needed to implement it.

Sima, however, said a lack of monitoring by the city corporation and irresponsible behaviour of city dwellers are responsible for waterlogging.

Many city dwellers built their houses encroaching upon the city corporation drains while the city corporation officials turned a blind eye to it. Then, how would the problem be resolved? Sima questioned.

“As a former councillor, I also take some responsibilities for the waterlogging problem,” she admitted, adding, “If I am elected, I will take strong measures to widen the drains, which have already been narrowed down."

Apart from waterlogging, both the candidates indentified traffic indiscipline and congestion as the second worst problem in the city.

Around one lakh battery-run three-wheelers are plying in and around the city, having neither route permit nor registration, said operators of those vehicles. 

Asked by The Daily Star correspondents how they operate without having any driving licence, Mojahidul Islam, a driver of a three-wheeler, said, “If you (correspondents) want to run the service, you just buy an auto-rickshaw and start operating on the road. You require no documents.”

Talking about the issue, Sima said, “These three-wheelers are increasing rapidly due to public demand. We will have to introduce an alternative transport system for people before removing these vehicles from roads.”

Shakoo also echoed the same and said, “Many people eke out a living operating these vehicles. Alternative employment opportunities must be created for them before imposing a ban on these vehicles.”

The duo claimed that they would take effective measures in this regard if people cast their vote for them.