Experts at a meeting today said implanting some quick action plans — building silt traps, clearing the mouths of major canals, and dredging siltation from 10 canals in Chattogram city — can help ease the waterlogging problem ahead of the upcoming monsoon.

The meeting on the development of works addressing waterlogging in the port city was held at Chattogram City Corporation (CCC). CCC mayor Shahadat Hossain presided over the meeting.

Australian expatriate Town Planner Abdullah Al Mamun presented a keynote paper titled "Priority Works for Alleviating Waterlogging Problems in Chattogram" at the meeting.

He said that mega projects are being implemented under various authorities to mitigate the waterlogging problem in the port city, but they will not be completed this year.

Besides, some quick action plans will have to be taken to ease the waterlogging situation in the monsoon this year, he said.

Mamum said upon invitation from the CCC, he has conducted a study on easing the waterlogging problem in this year's monsoon.

He said that after conducting the study, he has formulated an action plan prioritising 10 essential tasks to be completed by May. These include building silt traps in four waterlogging-prone areas, clearing the mouths of nine major canals, dredging silt from 10 major canals, and cleaning the Agrabad Box Culvert.

He alleged that the box culvert in the Agrabad Sheikh Mujib Road area has not been cleaned for over 26 years, significantly worsening the waterlogging problem in the area.

Addressing the meeting, Shahriar Khaled, an environmental activist and advisor to the CCC mayor on environmental affairs, said the city's canals have been filled with silt and domestic waste, preventing them from holding rainwater effectively.

He said all low-lying areas in the city are not prone to waterlogging during high tide. For example, tidal water does not enter areas in Sadarghat and Majhirghat, which are located along the banks of the Karnaphuli River.

He said many high-lying areas, including Nasirabad and Probattak intersection, are prone to waterlogging because the canals adjacent to these areas cannot contain the rainwater, coupled with tidal water.

CCC mayor Shahadat Hossain said although CDA has been implementing mega projects regarding mitigating waterlogging, people make CCC responsible for waterlogging problem.

"So, we have taken the initiative to formulate an action plan to ensure that the waterlogging problem remains at a manageable level during the coming monsoon," he said.

The mayor added that, alongside the implementation of the action plans, raising public awareness is crucial in this regard.