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The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has announced an over Tk 21.61 billion (Tk 2,161 crore) budget for the next financial year (fiscal year 2022-23 or FY '23).
Announcing the budget on Sunday, the CCC mayor stated that out of the total amount, Tk 1,212 crore will come as donations for development while the city corporation will spend Tk 904 cores from its own resources, including earning through holding tax and other income.
However, in the outgoing budget (FY '22) the city corporation received only Tk 852 crore as donation from the government and others out of a total Tk 1,570 pledged by them, CCC officials said.
On the other hand the CCC could earn only Tk 427.90 crore out of its earning target of Tk 852 crore for the current fiscal year which will end in July 2022, they added.
Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury made the announcement at a function at the CCC's Theatre Institute Hall of CCC in the morning.
Ward councilors and CCC high officials were also present at the programme.
Sources said that the CCC could not implement more than 50 per cent of the projects targeted for implementation by the city corporation in its previous budget.
Mayor Rezaul Karim acknowledged that water-logging is still the main problem of Chattogram city. But the city-dwellers are yet to be freed from this perennial problem, he said.
"Water-logging is the prime problem. People (city-dwellers) throw their garbages (household wastes) into drains and on streets and roads. If they don't change their habits in managing their household wastes, the drainage (sewerage) system will certainly collapse and water-logging cannot be removed," he stated.
He also noted that Karnaphuli River which needs major dredging to carry the port city's clogged water out of the city has not been dredged properly.
"It is unfortunate that Karnaphuli River is being silted now. As a result, water-logging is prevailing till today. Besides, the future of Chittagong seaport is at the risk due to the siltation of the Karnaphuli. If we want to save Chattogram and its seaport, we have to dredge (properly) the river," he mentioned.
He informed that the CCC has sent a proposal on multiple projects for the development of the city. The projects included in the proposal were prepared under the annual development plan for the city," he also said.
Mr Karim said, "We could not implement many projects in the last fiscal due to the lack of funds. It is fact that time is required in sending proposals for projects. Time is also needed for approval and allocation of funds."