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Habiganj waterlogged after downpour

Encroachment of canals, poor drainage system blamed

MlNTU DESHWARA, Moulvibazar
Habiganj town dwellers had to suffer following a three-hour downpour and subsequent waterlogging yesterday.
Normal life was hampered as people were forced to stay indoors, said locals.
The town's low-lying areas and even the premises of Water Development Board (WDB) and Circuit House got waterlogged.
Most of the streets and footpaths, and grounds of educational institutions as well as offices went under water, locals said. Public transports were not available or were scarce and charged extra, they added.
“1 waited for a long time for a transport to go to Circuit House area, but to no avail," said Swapan Mia. "I ended up wading through water."
Roads in Circuit House, Kalighach, Dakkhin Shaymoli, Chowdhuiybazar, Kormokarpotti, Mohonpur, Masterpara and Old Bus Stand areas are submerged even after a moderate rain, said Habibur Rahman, a former ward councillor of Habiganj municipality.
Environmentalists said continuous encroachment of canals and a lack of proper drainage and sewage system in the town
cause such waterlogging. The situation gets worse during monsoon, they said.
Tofazzal Sohel, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon's Habiganj unit, said water cannot recede as the canals are grabbed and sewers blocked.
He said around 30 percent area of the town got waterlogged. A stringent and active monitoring system has to be taken by the authorities concerned to stop illegal encroachment, he said.
Drains and canals overstuffed with garbage have to be cleared, he added.
Habiganj WDB Executive Engineer Touhidul Islam said most of the canals around the office are blocked. The municipality authorities have to clean the canals, he said.
Habiganj municipality officials admitted that indiscriminate dumping of waste choked up the drains.
Municipality acting mayor Dilip Das said unscrupulous people are erecting illegal structures on the banks of the canals. Several of the establishments are being demolished, he said.
Besides, they are trying to restore the navigability of the waterbodies, he said.
"We're going to develop our drainage system as well," added the acting mayor.