Choking a canal for bay terminal

For the last three years, Enamul Haque, a resident of Halishahar's Chowdhury Para in the port city, has been suffering from waterlogging.

"Now, even a drizzle results in waterlogging in our area after a part of the Chouchala canal, directly linked to the Bay, was filled by the Chattogram Port Authority to construct a bay terminal," he mentioned.

Earlier, the accumulated water used to flow to the bay through the canal.

However, since around half kilometre of the two-km canal was filled ignoring Chattogram Development Authority's directive, over 4,500 locals have suffered due to waterlogging in the area, especially during monsoons, said Kazi Hasan Bin Shams, chief engineer of the CDA.

During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent found that the canal had been filled up from the Bay of Bengal's entry point to the ring road.

The waterbody's destruction has led to heavy waterlogging. Despite repeated pleas, the CPA has not re-excavated the canal, said Mohammed Elias, councillor of the North Halishahar ward.

The bay terminal, which has a length of 6.15 kilometres, is being constructed on around 2,500 acres of land, stretching from rear Chattogram Export Processing Zone to Rasmonighat in the Bay's Halishahar coast.

Occupying water bodies with obtaining permission from the Department of Environment is a punishable offence. The first-time offenders can be sentenced to a maximum two years imprisonment or be subjected to a fine of Tk 2 lakh, or both. Repeating the action can lead to 10 years of imprisonment or a fine of Tk 10 lakh, or both. The CPA has not taken any permission to fill the canal, informed Hillol Biswas, director of the DoE Chattogram city unit.

 However, Rafiul Alam, executive engineer of the Chattogram Port Authority, denied the allegations and assured of having necessary permissions from all the authorities concerned.

"There will be no canal through the terminal. However, an eight-km long and 80-feet wide drain will be constructed throughout the terminal to prevent waterlogging in the area," he added.