Persistent Waterlogging Crisis in Chattogram
Despite significant financial investment over the past decade and multiple large-scale drainage projects, Chattogram continues to face severe waterlogging during the monsoon season. The city’s ongoing struggle with this issue highlights a combination of systemic challenges, including delayed project implementation, lack of coordination among agencies, poor urban planning, and public apathy.
In 2017, four major initiatives were launched by the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA), Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), and the Water Development Board to address the problem. These projects, with an estimated total cost of nearly Tk 14,000 crore, were expected to be completed by 2022. However, as of now, the progress stands between 60 and 80 percent. Recent heavy rains have once again led to widespread flooding, particularly in low-lying areas of the city.
While some parts of the city saw improved drainage due to canal renovation efforts, several neighborhoods, such as Chawkbazar, Mehedibagh, Kapasgola, Katalganj, Sholokbahar, and Agrabad, experienced severe inundation. This has caused significant hardship for hundreds of thousands of residents. Additionally, there is no visible action being taken to relocate people from high-risk hilly areas despite warnings of potential landslides.
According to CCC sources, excavation work on 21 out of 36 canals has been completed. Furthermore, regulator gates and pump houses have been built at the mouths of four canals out of the 12 planned under the project. Despite these efforts, project engineer Kazi Hasan Bin Shams acknowledged that waterlogging has reduced somewhat but pointed to non-degradable waste as a key factor blocking drainage channels.
Urban planner Delwar Majumder emphasized the need to hold private and institutional owners of vulnerable hills accountable, warning that failure to do so would keep the risk of landslides and casualties alive. Residents, however, remain critical of the situation, blaming poor urban management and public irresponsibility for the ongoing crisis.
Over the last 14 fiscal years, CCC has spent Tk 324 crore under three mayors to tackle the problem. This money was allocated for canal excavation, silt removal, construction of retaining walls, and procurement of machinery and trucks. However, experts argue that the funds were not spent efficiently, with routine work done merely to show effort rather than addressing core issues. They also note that the amount spent was insufficient given the scale of the problem.
In April of last year, many parts of the city were submerged twice due to heavy rain. In June, large areas including the key Agrabad Access Road remained underwater for four days, with boats seen navigating the streets. Recently, faster water drainage helped prevent prolonged waterlogging, but the city still faces constant threats during peak monsoon seasons.
According to data, 22 of Chattogram’s 41 wards experience waterlogging during heavy rain and tidal surges, affecting over 3.1 million of the city’s 6 million residents. The worst-affected areas include Chandgaon, East Sholoshohor, Sholokbahar, Chawkbazar, and others, home to over 1.8 million people. Additional affected wards include Panchlaish, Mohora, and others, with a combined population of over 1.3 million.
An analysis of CCC’s budget documents reveals that former mayors spent varying amounts on waterlogging measures over the years. Despite these expenditures, the problem persists, with experts pointing to a lack of coordination among agencies. Chattogram has 118 canals spanning 182.25 kilometers, along with 710 kilometers of concrete drains and 55 kilometers of unpaved ones. However, CCC receives far less funding than needed, with annual development implementation fluctuating between 17 and 35 percent.
Experts emphasize the urgent need for a coordinated effort, including the full implementation of the 1995 ‘Chittagong Storm Water Drainage and Flood Control Masterplan.’ This plan outlines a comprehensive approach to address the issue, with CCC assigned responsibility for its implementation.
Root Causes of Waterlogging
Several factors contribute to the persistent waterlogging in Chattogram:
- Hill Cutting: Illegal hill cutting leads to soil and sand filling drains.
- Encroachment: Drains and canals are occupied for illegal construction.
- Waste Dumping: Canals are used as garbage bins by residents.
- Tidal Influence: Rising canal mouths prevent proper outflow into the Karnaphuli River during high tides.
- Unplanned Urbanization: Landfilling of low-lying areas and reservoirs exacerbates the problem.
- Pipeline Obstruction: Service agency pipelines running through drains block water flow.
- Tidal Surges: Flooding occurs during high tides, especially when coinciding with rainfall.
Possible Solutions
To mitigate the issue, experts suggest the following steps:
- Conduct fresh research and updated planning.
- Regular dredging of the Karnaphuli River and demolition of illegal riverside structures.
- Deepen and widen roadside drains and conduct regular canal excavation.
- Prohibit filling of waterbodies and ponds.
- Improve waste management to prevent garbage from entering canals.
- Identify and remove drainage obstacles.
- Construct new canals and straighten existing ones.
- Install silt traps to block hill sediments.
- Build tidal gates in low-lying areas near the river and sea.
- Relocate pipelines inside canals and correct technical errors in drain construction.
- Launch public awareness campaigns to prevent canal pollution.
- Empower local ward offices to take accountability for drainage issues.
Experts stress that fully implementing the Drainage Masterplan is essential. With considerable time having passed since its formulation, it now requires review and updates. All relevant agencies, including CDA, Port Authority, WASA, and Water Development Board, must act in coordination under the leadership of CCC. Given the current budget and capacity, CCC alone cannot bear the burden of solving this complex problem.
Interim Government’s Role
Hope emerged earlier this year when the interim government took the issue seriously. On January 19, four advisers visited the port city to assess the situation. After visiting key canals and drains, they launched eight short-term initiatives, resulting in improved drainage in some areas. However, CCC Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain noted that a complete solution across the city will require at least another year to one and a half years.