Before Spending More, Explain Chattogram’s Waterlogging

We find it unacceptable that Chattogram continues to be plagued by waterlogging despite more than Tk 11,000 crore being spent under four projects worth Tk 14,389 crore. According to officials of the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and the Water Development Board (WDB), around 95 per cent of the main waterlogging project and 90 per cent of the WDB project have been completed. Yet, even light rain has recently flooded parts of the port city. Before more money is allocated, the authorities must explain why such massive spending has produced so little relief.

The scale of the investment is considerable. The main Tk 8,626 crore scheme covers 36 of Chattogram’s 57 canals and includes retaining walls, bridges, culverts, silt traps and regulators. The City Corporation is implementing a Tk 1,343 crore project to excavate a 2.9-kilometre canal. Meanwhile, the WDB is carrying out a Tk 1,620 crore project involving a 19-kilometre flood wall, 23 regulators and 69 pumps.

However, the deadlines for these projects have repeatedly been extended. The main project now seeks an extension until June 2027, while the WDB project, originally scheduled for June 2023, is expected to continue until April 2027. More importantly, high physical progress has not translated into adequate protection for residents. This points to serious shortcomings in planning and coordination.

Waterlogging disrupts traffic, strands commuters, damages businesses and affects schools and hospitals. Chattogram has 57 canals, but the major project covers only 36. Experts have also raised concerns about the failure to develop retention ponds recommended in the 1995 Master Plan. The city’s geography adds another challenge. High tides can push seawater levels above five metres, while some areas are only two to three metres above sea level. Clearly, canal excavation alone cannot solve the problem.

The government should therefore resist the temptation to simply approve more funds. Before extending projects or allocating additional money, it should commission an independent technical assessment. This should examine whether the projects were properly designed, whether existing infrastructure is functioning effectively and why coordination among the CDA, City Corporation and WDB remains inadequate.

A citywide drainage and flood-management strategy is essential. It must bring rainfall, tides, canals, water-retention capacity and rapid urbanisation into one framework. Regular de-silting and maintenance should also continue. Better waste management is crucial, as clogged drains can undermine even costly infrastructure.

Ultimately, public projects must be judged by results, not by completion percentages. A project being 95 per cent complete means little to a resident whose street goes underwater after a light shower. Chattogram does not need another cycle of expensive projects and deadline extensions. Before spending more, the government must fix the strategy.