Karnaphuli Water Treatment Plant likely to be ready by Dec

Shamsul Huda | Published: April 05, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

The construction work of the Karnaphuli Water Treatment Plant at Rangunia in Chittagong is likely to be completed this year.
After completion the plant will be able to supply 143 million litres drinking water per day to Chittagong Water Supply Authority (CWASA).
According to data available from CWASA, demand for drinking water per day is more than 400 million litres but they can supply only 200 million litres.
CWASA managing director Engineer AKM Fazlullah said the water treatment plant in Pomra union under Rangunia thana would meet major portion of the current drinking water shortfall.
Under the project, water would be collected from the river Karnaphuli and it would be treated in treatment plant four miles away from the river, he said.
After treating the water would be stored in reservoir and from there it would be supplied to the CWASA several miles away from the plant.
Engr. Fazlullah said till today more than 45 per cent progress have been done in 21 months. The work stated in July 2012 and its scheduled completion time is October of the current year.
The CWASA chief said, "As we faced some trouble during political unrest so we hope the project would take extra three months' time - it would be ready by December."
The Tk16 billion project's 85 per cent is funded by JICA and 15 per cent by the government.
Project Builders Limited (PBL) Managing Director Engineer Aminul Islam said, "We are working in the project for its civil engineering works in the intake facilities and reservoir sites."
Engr. Islam said, "Our progress is satisfactory. We hope if there are no further political or other problems the project may not take much extra time for completion."
But another source in the PBL said they are facing some trouble in the project.
The source said land acquisition is still a problem for them though till today more than 80 per cent of the acquisition problem has been solved.
He said, "Our progress was hampered due to political unrest last year. There was also funding problem the same year."
Beijing Sound, a Chinese company, is working as main contractor in the project site. Two other Japanese and Korean construction firms are also engaged in the project.
Engr. Fazlullah said the government has plans to increase water treatment facilities in different phases as demand for drinking water is increasing every day.