60 illegal structures pulled down along Chaktai canal

Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) with the help of Bangladesh Army demolished around 60 illegal structures along the Chaktai canal in Chittagong on Monday.

Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) in association with Bangladesh Army initiated the eviction drive against the illegal structures alongside the canals in the port city.

Monday’s demolition work was a part of the eviction drive that is aimed to rid the dwellers of the perennial water logging problem. 

CDA Special Magistrate Saiful Alam Chowdhury led the drive.

Ahmed Moinuddin, CDA executive engineer and project director said, "Around 60 illegal structures along the Chaktai canal were bulldozed and around 2.5 kilometres of land have been reclaimed."

"Initially, 866 structures will be demolished to ensure free flow of water, while 710 establishments will be bulldozed to construct roads beside the canals. At least 1,576 illegal structures on 13 canals have already been identified," he said.

According to the CDA, some 300 illegal structured have sprung up on 5.88 km along the Chaktai canal over the years.  

A survey conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), revealed that 123 acres of 13 major canals in the port city have been occupied over the years. 

More than 1,500 illegal structures have sprung up illegally that have been obstructing the free flow of water, causing waterlogging.    

The illegal structures include concrete buildings, shanties, tin-shed houses, graveyards and crematoriums, CDA said.

The city has 57 identified canals, which are homes to six million people.

Around one-third of Chittagong district goes under water during the monsoon every year, while the southern part of the coastal city gets flooded during high tides, even when there is no rain.