Much publicity, little recovery of canals
Drive in Sylhet remains stalled
Work under the much-talked project for reclaiming 11 canals and natural streams in Sylhet city has remained suspended for over two weeks.
To rid residents of the city and its suburbs from immense sufferings due to water logging especially during the rainy season, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) initiated the Tk 11 crore project amid huge publicity in April this year.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, also the lawmaker from Sylhet Sadar constituency, formally inaugurated the work and visited different sites wherefrom a few illegal structures were removed and some excavation work was done at the initial stage.
But shortly afterwards, the illegal grabbers created obstacles while some of the ward councillors took stance in support of the grabbers.
Consequently, the city corporation officials suspended works at places and withdrew their bulldozers and other equipment from the sites.
Terming excessive rain and foul weather as the reason for 'temporary suspension' of the work, acting Chief Engineer of SCC Nur Azizur Rahman said, "We expect resumption of the work in September when there will be less rainfall. Already we have reclaimed a good part of three streams -- Dubi Chhara in Shahi Eidgah area, Goalichhara at Baluchar and Malnichhara."
Under the programme 1450 boundary pillars, 1200 metre RCC wall, 1000 metre guard wall and four box culverts were to be erected for reclaiming the natural canals and streams in the city.
The courses once helped water from the city flow to the Surma River, especially during the rainy season.
But they have become narrow due to encroachment by influential people during the last three decades, said several city dwellers.
Even after a moderate rainfall, most of the areas in the city go under water as rainwater cannot easily pass through the drains and canals as those are too narrow and indiscriminately dumped wastes block up most of the drains, said SCC officials.
Sometimes many city streets at Shahjalal uposhshar, Hawapara, Agpara, Zatarpur, Subhanighat, Raynagar, Sheikhghat, Bhatalia, Bilopar, Pimahalla, Khasdabir, Dargah Mahalla, Jhalopara, Station Road, Bangabir Road, Kadamtali, Kanishail, Nabab Road, and Dakshin-Bagbari areas remain under water for days together, causing immense sufferings to the pedestrians and residents, said city dwellers.
It happens as banks of almost all the natural streams and canals in the city have been narrowed by the grabbers, said Faizur Rahman Khosru of Uposhahar area.
Many influential people have already built pucca buildings and commercial establishments on the grabbed lands.
Contacted, the SCC Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran said, "Although there were some problems at places, we are hopeful to continue the programme. Things will start effectively in September when there will be less rain. Water stagnation problem will be solved to a great extent if we can implement the programme."
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