Manikganj canal project mired in irregularities

Manikganj's only canal, which cuts through the heart of the town, was once clogged with waste and debris. With the hope of transforming it into a scenic landmark, the Manikganj municipality initiated a modernisation project.

Although the second phase of this initiative began in 2022 with a targeted completion time of June 2024, the reality on the ground remains disappointing.

Almost one-third of the work remains unfinished, costs have increased, and public frustration continues to grow. Locals are now questioning the durability of the beautification efforts, citing use of substandard materials in construction.

The canal's first beautification project commenced in 2008, with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Bangladesh.

Around Tk60million (Tk6 crore) was spent at that time. Concrete blocks were installed along both sides of the canal, and a four-foot-wide walkway with benches was built for pedestrians. However, due to irregularities and poor artistry, residents received little benefit from the project.

In 2022, a fresh initiative was launched under the Second City Region Development Project (CRDP-2). The new initiative, costing Tk 250 million (Tk25 crore), included canal re-excavation, beautification, construction of three bridges, and a public toilet. The joint venture of Apex Enterprise and M/S Kamrul & Brothers was tasked with implementation.

While the bridges and the public toilet have been completed, the slope work on both sides of the canal-using concrete blocks-is still ongoing. Many of the newly installed blocks have already cracked or collapsed in some areas.

"The blocks already show cracks. I don't think they'll last long," said resident Abu Raihan.

"It's clear that the materials used are not up to standard. A few days of heavy rain could cause major damage." Questions have also been raised regarding the quality of roads built using uni-blocks. Roads from the District Judge Court to the Model School and from Debendra College to Bazaar Bridge have already subsided in several areas.

Motorcyclist Hafizur Rahman also complained about the elevated covers of adjacent RCC drains and manholes, which are making navigation difficult. "The roads are already narrow. The raised drain covers make them even harder to use. Poor construction and lack of supervision are obvious," he said. Environmental activist Nazrul Islam expressed additional concerns, noting, "In the past, the then-mayor built embankments at both ends of the canal for fish farming. This obstructed the water flow, causing a severe stench.

They were eventually forced to remove the embankments. Now, the contractor is doing the same. If water flow is blocked again, this canal will turn into a drain."

The project was initially scheduled to be completed by June last year. However, the contractor has received several deadline extensions and is now expected to complete the project by September this year. Meanwhile, the project cost has increased by another Tk30million (Tk3 crore). Despite this, progress remains slow. Notably, road construction on the canal's southern side has not even begun.

Resident Rumedur Rouf Khan Rumel said, "From the beginning, this project has been full of irregularities and delays. The contractor delivered subpar work, and the supervising engineers looked the other way. Everyone knows the then-ruling party backed the contractor. That's why there was no accountability. The delay and the condition of the work clearly show this is not development-it's negligence and corruption."

Attempts to contact the contractors for comments were unsuccessful.

When asked, Manikganj Municipality's administrator, Sanjida Jesmin, said, "I have received several complaints about irregularities, and I am taking the matter seriously. I have visited the project site multiple times. Where substandard materials have been used, I have ordered their removal. I have also ordered removal of embankments that were blocking the natural water flow."

asadlimon@gmail.com