The Korean EPZ authority has suspended the drainage management work in and around the export processing zone due to obstruction from what it called miscreants, land grabbers and influential quarters. The authority said that it was constructing drainage system in a bid to save the KEPZ and local people from the onrush of hills and flood water during the upcoming monsoon. “We have already completed the drainage system in the jetty area adjacent to Chittagong Marine Academy and KEPZ Bandar area so that additional water from the hills is drained out and cannot do harm during the rainy season,” a statement of the KEPZ said. The authority has also constructed an artificial lake on the east of the historic Chand Sawdagar Dighi to preserve at least 25,000 gallons of water. When the drainage work was going on in full swing the land grabbers, who were active in the area since February 28, have forced the authority to stop drainage construction work, it said. “In the face of their aggressive attitude the workers of the KEPZ were forced to discontinue work of canal, culvert and lake digging beside the port link road of the KEPZ,” the statement said. It did not get any help from the local administration despite repeated requests, it added.
