Residents of posh areas cry for civic amenities

Worn out roads at Katalganj, left, and Halishahar. The roads go under water during rainy season and occur accidents frequently. But the authorities concerned are indifferent to the problems for years. PHOTO: Zobaer Hossain Sikder

Continued crisis of drinking water, persistent loadshedding, waterlogging and roads in dilapidated conditions have made life miserable for people of the residential areas at Chandgon, Katalganj and Agrabad in the city.

"You may envy that we live in a so-called posh area but will be amazed to know that we pass our days amid untold miseries. We are to face all sorts of civic problems everyday and I don't know whether the situation is similar to other places or not," said Mainul Haque, senior executive of a shipping firm and resident of Agrabad CDA Residential Area.

Mainul said I have, on many occasions, lodged complaints with WASA or PDB offices about water or power crisis in vain and by doing so, I'm a known face to the officials concerned.

"My tenacity and frequent visit to the offices sometimes brought remedies but the problem remains a perennial one throughout the year," he added.

Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, formerly a journalist, of Chandgaon Residential Area said "Because of bad condition of roads, I do never dare to ride on a rickshaw in front of my house. I usually take a 10 to 15-minute walk to reach main road to catch the vehicle," he added.

The blocks also lack a good drainage system causing environmental hazards. Besides, the drains of these areas are often found filled with sands and household wastes. As a result, the areas get inundated in the face of even a shower and it gets its worst during the monsoon.

The CDA built up Katalganj Residential Area in 1964, Agrabad in 1969, Chandgaon in 1973, Salimpur in 1985, Karnaphuli in 1995,Chandgaon (second phase) in 1999 and Kalpalok (first phase) in 1999, sources said. A total of 5,000 residential plots of various sizes were developed in those areas, sources added.

Of the blocks, Katalganj, Chandgaon and Agrabad have got the complete shape though they lag far behind the civic amenities.

Salimpur at the Fouzdarhat area in the city with all potential to grow up as an excellent residential block had not got the full-fledged shape for last two decades due to sluggishness of the authorities concerned as well as lack of infrastructural development and absence of security measures.

Karnaphuli, Chandgaon (second phase) and Kalpalok blocks are yet to be developed by the CDA.