New rules for construction of slipway, dockyard, dry dock, jetty soon
The unplanned jetties and gangways along different points of the river Karnaphuli pose a threat to the navigability of Chittagong port channel. The picture was taken from Fishery Ghat area. Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder
Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) will introduce new rules soon for construction of slipway, dockyard, dry docks and jetties without hampering flow of the river Karnaphuli. The rules have already been finalised at a meeting of representatives from CPA, Bangladesh Navy, coastguards and other stakeholders like Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and its marketing companies Padma, Meghna and Jamuna at the shipping ministry on March 9, said CPA sources. The new rules would allow construction of new slipways and dockyards that remained suspended since October last year and help growth of thriving shipbuilding industry, they said. As per the new rules construction of slipways, dockyard and dry-docks would be allowed along the other bank of the river stretching from just opposite to Chittagong port jetty No 1 towards the upstream and along the western bank (city side) stretching from 2km upstream off Karnaphuli 2nd bridge (Shah Amanat Bridge) to the further upstream, CPA sources said. Mentionable, around 22km of the river starting from the estuary up to Halda junction alongside 50m shoreline (starting from the stream) on both sides are under the control of CPA. Sources said in absence of rule CPA estate department issued permission for such structures having clearance from its hydrography, marine engineering and engineering departments. CPA gave the permission following its 50-year land use plan introduced in 1986. Under the system construction of slipways with 10-ft to 20-ft length was allowed for an annual rent of Tk 7000 per foot and jetty at Tk 1300 per foot. But, such structures grew up haphazardly while applications were made seeking permission for more such structures to narrow the river near Chittagong port channel and hamper navigability and flow, said the sources. At present there are three slipways belonging to Karnaphuli Shipyard, Fishers Shipyard and Western Marine Shipyards and 79 private jetties, including large and small ones. Applications were submitted for some ten more slipways while four big companies --Bashundhara Group, KEPZ (Korean EPZ), AK Khan Group -- applied for some 20 more jetties when CPA needs to develop two more jetties of its own, said the sources. Deputy Estate Manager Khademul Bashar said the new rules are being introduced to help develop structures in a planned way. He said after construction of new structures CPA would take steps to dredge the river by the money expected to come as rent from them. CPA is allowing the structures to help develop the prospective shipbuilding industries in the greater interest of the country, he added. “Besides, construction of such structures at 2km upstream of Karnaphuli 2nd bridge would help the planned capital dredging of some 2.5km stretch of the river from Sadarghat towards upstream,” he said. Under the new rules CPA would charge rent for the whole of the riverfront the installation (to whom the slipway belongs) faces. However, the rent for the slipway would be at the same rate as charged for jetty, ranges from Tk 1500 per foot to Tk 3000 per foot depending on the size, Basher said.
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