Bangladesh achieved 97 per cent sanitation coverage until 2014 under its ongoing programme for 100 per cent sanitation, the LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam told Parliament on Sunday, report agencies.
The position of Bangladesh is third among SAARC countries in terms of achieving highest sanitation coverage, he said, replying to a tabled question of Faridul Haque Khan, MP (Jamalpur-2).
According to the Local Government Division of the Ministry, the use of sanitary latrines in Bangladesh was only 33 per cent in 2003 when the country first began the sanitation programme.
Replying to another tabled question of Abdur Rauf MP (Kushtia-4), the LGRD Minister said Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) have taken effective steps for sustainable and environment-friendly water management.
"According to the steps, the Dhaka WASA will be able to supply 70 per cent surface water and 30 per cent underground water by 2019," he said.
Now 78 per cent water of Dhaka WASA is supplied from underground sources and 30 per cent from surface sources, the minister added.
Answering a starred question from Moazzem Hossain Ratan, MP
(Sunamganj-1), Ashraful Islam said about 167.2 million people in the country have so far registered their birth.
"A total of 16,71,78,312 people registered birth under the Birth and Death Registration Project till September 2014," he said.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minster Syed Ashraful Islam said Sunday Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has prepared a 'Drainage Master Plan' for removing water logging in the capital city.
"The project would be implemented in phases to remove water logging in the city," he told the Jatiya Sangsad, while replying to a question from treasury bench member Golam Dastagir Gazi.
The minister said the government has also a plan to remove water logging through pipeline and pumping stations and maintenance of the city's canals as a short-term programme.
Meanwhile, the storm water drainage system of Dhaka WASA has been handed over to Dhaka City Corporation (South) and Water Development Board for implementing the system.
