The canal re-excavation, extension, development project in Chattogram aimed at tackling waterlogging has only 11 months to go, but so far, only half work has been completed of the three year project.
Though 15 institutions got involved in the project, only three projects could start work on time. The contractors say the delay was caused since project implementing agency, CDA, could not formulate the design on time.
In addition, there is accusation that advisory institute, Centre for Environment and Geography Information Services, has not been supportive.
However, CDA claims that the designs were given to the contractors last April.
CDA project director, engineer Ahmed Mainuddin has said the project is being monitored by the army.
Of the 15 contractors, Spectra, NDE and Biswas Trading and Construction began work.
In one year, not even 5 per cent work was done; the work to re-excavate canals has not started, the construction of roads and defence walls by the canals is moving slowly.
Biswas Trading and Construction was given order to develop 10 canals but the company could not complete work on a single canal.
NDE limited got six canals and they started work on three while the rest are untouched.
An official of a contractor company says: “The delay is caused since the designs were not given to us on time. This project will not be completed within the stipulated time frame.”
Executive engineer, Ahmed Mainuddin, said: “It took one year to make a full-fledged design of the canals; the advisory bodies gave the designs in April that we gave to the contractors. The army is monitoring the project and they will be able to elaborate on the delay.”
The Tk 56.16 billion project was approved by ECNEC in August 2017 to meet the waterlogging problem in Chattogram. The last date to implement it is June 2020 and on 9 April, 2018, an MoU was signed between the army and CDA.
The work began on Apr 28. Under the project, 36 canals will be excavated.
Resident engineer of advisory institute, CIGS, Sheikh Abdul Momin, said: “The project did not follow the steps typical in such work; the contractors did not have rates or designs; they were hurriedly brought into the work.”
The initial designs were flawed and impractical, he commented and added: “The soil of Chattogram is not top quality and, therefore, retaining walls have to be set up after piling.”