Prominent engineers of Chittagong urged the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) to let the people of the city know the details about its mega project aimed at eradicating water-logging of the port city.

The call was made from a meeting organised by Forum for Planned Chittagong a platform of town planners, held at Chittagong Press Club yesterday.

They also urged authorities concerned to ensure coordination while implementing the project.

The project - titled canal reexcavation, renovation and expansion to eradicate water logging of Chittagong worth Tk 5,616 crore - was approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) in August last year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed to form a committee comprising housingand public works ministry, water resources ministry and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) ahead of the implementation of the project

Sikandar Khan, president of the Forum, said it is the biggest develop-

ment project Chittagong has ever seen. But the sad part is that people do not know much about it.

He observed that if people are not informed of the activities, the situation of water-logging will remain the same.

Urging the CDA to inform people about their activities, he also emphasised on the coordination among the government institutions.

"Some government organisations are seen to send their second class officers to attend coordination meetings, suggesting their reluctance in

coordinating the development work. Everyone must come out from such mentality," he added.

If government organisations are void of sense of responsibility, sufferings of people are bound to rise, said Sikandar, also vice-chancellor of East-Delta university.

Jerina Hossen, architect and member of the forum, said they want to know in which process the project is being implemented.

"We want to cooperate but if we are not aware of their work process, how will we go ahead?" she asked.

She mentioned that once the project is implemented, it requires maintenance. Otherwise, the benefits of the huge project will remain elusive.

Engineer Suvash Barua, Delwar Mojumadar, Akther Kabir Chowdhury and Shamsul Hossain were present among others.