Ctg areas reel under dust pangs

A thick veil of dust has reduced visibility in areas stretching from Bahaddarhat to Kaptai in Chittagong. Moreover, the ongoing laying of pipes by the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) has compounded the problem for commuters.

The CWASA has been digging up roads for months to lay the pipes as part of its Karnaphuli Water Supply Project (KWSP), affecting a 10-km stretch in the city including Bahaddarhat intersection, Khaja Road, Bahaddarhat Bus Terminal, Chandagaon, Moulvipukur, Kaptai road, Quiyash, Nazu Mia Hat and Madunaghat.
When vehicles ply on the dug up and potholed roads, the air is filled with sand and dust, causing immense suffering to pedestrians and commuters. Many of them are forced to cover their nose and mouth with cloths or handkerchiefs to avoid the menace.
In addition, the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has added to the agony of pedestrians by digging up a 5.2 km stretch of road from Muradpur to Lamkhan Bazaar for an ongoing flyover construction.
Sources in the Department of Environment (DoE) said the amount of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in Chittagong’s air was rising constantly and it currently stood between 350 to 450 micrograms per cubic meter (mcm), almost two times higher than the acceptable level of 200 mcm.
However, the woes are unlikely to end soon. 
Speaking to The Independent, CWASA chief engineer Md Zohurul Haque said, “We have to wait for six-eight months more to complete our work. After laying down the pipes, we have to check their resistance and tolerance for water pressure.”
“Considering the suffering caused to commuters, we are trying to complete our pipeline set up as early as possible,” he added.
Frequent users of the road, such as roadside shopkeepers, students, children, office goers, drivers, and pedestrians, are the worst affected.
Md Safayet Ullah, a higher secondary student of Hajera Taju Degree College, said: “It is quite impossible to use the road. Though we use masks, we cannot avoid the menace of dust. The authorities are digging the roads for a long time. The dry season is the worst.” 
“Dust from the roads also enters our classrooms. We are helpless against this problem,” he added.
Md Mosiur Rahman, a teacher of Kuaish College, said, “It is unbearable, and we find it difficult to breathe normally. Apart from the dust, potholes too dominate the roads in the area. But the authorities concerned seem reluctant to address our complaints.”
Dr Azizur Rahman Siddique, civil surgeon of Chittagong, said: “Dust is to be blamed for various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and health hazards. Long-time contact with dust can also lead to lung infection, respiratory problem, influenza, typhoid, cough and eye infection. It’s particularly troublesome for children and the elderly.”
The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) was given two sweeping vehicles for clearing dust by the DoE in 2013. The DoE spent Tk 1.75 crore for the two vehicles. 
Earlier in 2010-11, the CCC had spent Tk 50.30 lakh from its own funds to buy sweeping vehicles. However, the vehicles are lying unused at CCC’s Sagorika dumping yard.
CCC chief engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed said the sweeping vehicles were not suitable for the city’s environment. “We are planning to buy sweeping vehicles that works in our environment.”
On the prevailing menace of dust, the civic official washed off responsibility. “Since WASA and CDA are conducting development works, they are responsible for clearing the dust,” he added.

Ctg areas reel under dust pangs

A thick veil of dust has reduced visibility in areas stretching from Bahaddarhat to Kaptai in Chittagong. Moreover, the ongoing laying of pipes by the Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) has compounded the problem for commuters. The CWASA has been digging up roads for months to lay the pipes as part of its Karnaphuli Water Supply Project (KWSP), affecting a 10-km stretch in the city including Bahaddarhat intersection, Khaja Road, Bahaddarhat Bus Terminal, Chandagaon, Moulvipukur, Kaptai road, Quiyash, Nazu Mia Hat and Madunaghat. When vehicles ply on the dug up and potholed roads, the air is filled with sand and dust, causing immense suffering to pedestrians and commuters. Many of them are forced to cover their nose and mouth with cloths or handkerchiefs to avoid the menace. In addition, the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) has added to the agony of pedestrians by digging up a 5.2 km stretch of road from Muradpur to Lamkhan Bazaar for an ongoing flyover construction. Sources in the Department of Environment (DoE) said the amount of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in Chittagongs air was rising constantly and it currently stood between 350 to 450 micrograms per cubic meter (mcm), almost two times higher than the acceptable level of 200 mcm. However, the woes are unlikely to end soon. Speaking to The Independent, CWASA chief engineer Md Zohurul Haque said, We have to wait for six-eight months more to complete our work. After laying down the pipes, we have to check their resistance and tolerance for water pressure. Considering the suffering caused to commuters, we are trying to complete our pipeline set up as early as possible, he added. Frequent users of the road, such as roadside shopkeepers, students, children, office goers, drivers, and pedestrians, are the worst affected. Md Safayet Ullah, a higher secondary student of Hajera Taju Degree College, said: It is quite impossible to use the road. Though we use masks, we cannot avoid the menace of dust. The authorities are digging the roads for a long time. The dry season is the worst. Dust from the roads also enters our classrooms. We are helpless against this problem, he added. Md Mosiur Rahman, a teacher of Kuaish College, said, It is unbearable, and we find it difficult to breathe normally. Apart from the dust, potholes too dominate the roads in the area. But the authorities concerned seem reluctant to address our complaints. Dr Azizur Rahman Siddique, civil surgeon of Chittagong, said: Dust is to be blamed for various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and health hazards. Long-time contact with dust can also lead to lung infection, respiratory problem, influenza, typhoid, cough and eye infection. Its particularly troublesome for children and the elderly. The Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) was given two sweeping vehicles for clearing dust by the DoE in 2013. The DoE spent Tk 1.75 crore for the two vehicles. Earlier in 2010-11, the CCC had spent Tk 50.30 lakh from its own funds to buy sweeping vehicles. However, the vehicles are lying unused at CCCs Sagorika dumping yard. CCC chief engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed said the sweeping vehicles were not suitable for the citys environment. We are planning to buy sweeping vehicles that works in our environment. On the prevailing menace of dust, the civic official washed off responsibility. Since WASA and CDA are conducting development works, they are responsible for clearing the dust, he added.