DWASA to install two WTPs costing Tk 28b
Saturday, 25 July 2009
The Dhaka Water And Sewerage Authority (DWASA) has embarked on a four-year plan to set up two more Water Treatment Plants (WTP) to reduce dependency on underground water as experts' fear about land subsidence due to over depletion of ground water in Dhaka city, reports BSS.
The DWASA will install the planned WTPs - one at Pagla in Narayanganj and another at Keraniganj of the metropolis - during 2009-2012 fiscal at an estimated cost of Tk 28 billion (2,800 crore), DWASA sources said.
Engineer M Liaqat Ali, Deputy Managing Director of DWASA said that an additional 450 million litres of surface water a day would be added to the existing 257 Million Litres per Day (MLD) surface water to meet the city's potable water demand leading to reducing ground water extraction.
Negotiations are afoot with Chinese Government to manage the cost in this regard, he said adding that a delegation from Bangladesh side led by Secretary of Economic Relations Division (ERD) is scheduled to leave Dhaka for China on July 27 this month.
"We are hastening our efforts to end the negotiation with China so that we can start installation of two ETPs shortly to diminish the undue pressure on underground water before it takes an alarming turn," said Engineer Ali.
Upon completion of the project, he said, two WTPs will have some components including construction of intake transmission line stretching 90 km and construction of 68 km water line besides adding the extra 450 million litres of water to the existing water supply quantity.
Managing Director (MD) of DWASA M Shahjahan Ali Mollah expressed his dismay saying that it is unfortunate that no other project has been taken up since the inception of the Saidabad WTP many years ago. The DWASA is also contemplating initiating Saidabad water treatment plant phase-II involving Tk 8.50 billion.
Two other major projects for drawing water from the Padma and the Meghna are also awaiting funding from development partners, said the WASA MD.
Shahjahan Mollah, also a Joint Secretary of the Local Government Division (LGD), said the LGD with financial assistance of Danish Government has initiated a revision of sector development programme laying stress on integrated water supply issues particularly optimum use of surface water with an investment requirement of three billion US dollars by 2015.
The WASA chief, however, postulated a set of recommendations to preserve surface water sources of Dhaka city including proper enforcement of conservation act of water bodies, provision of mandatory Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for industries and strict enforcement of building code with provision of rain water preservation.
The DWASA will install the planned WTPs - one at Pagla in Narayanganj and another at Keraniganj of the metropolis - during 2009-2012 fiscal at an estimated cost of Tk 28 billion (2,800 crore), DWASA sources said.
Engineer M Liaqat Ali, Deputy Managing Director of DWASA said that an additional 450 million litres of surface water a day would be added to the existing 257 Million Litres per Day (MLD) surface water to meet the city's potable water demand leading to reducing ground water extraction.
Negotiations are afoot with Chinese Government to manage the cost in this regard, he said adding that a delegation from Bangladesh side led by Secretary of Economic Relations Division (ERD) is scheduled to leave Dhaka for China on July 27 this month.
"We are hastening our efforts to end the negotiation with China so that we can start installation of two ETPs shortly to diminish the undue pressure on underground water before it takes an alarming turn," said Engineer Ali.
Upon completion of the project, he said, two WTPs will have some components including construction of intake transmission line stretching 90 km and construction of 68 km water line besides adding the extra 450 million litres of water to the existing water supply quantity.
Managing Director (MD) of DWASA M Shahjahan Ali Mollah expressed his dismay saying that it is unfortunate that no other project has been taken up since the inception of the Saidabad WTP many years ago. The DWASA is also contemplating initiating Saidabad water treatment plant phase-II involving Tk 8.50 billion.
Two other major projects for drawing water from the Padma and the Meghna are also awaiting funding from development partners, said the WASA MD.
Shahjahan Mollah, also a Joint Secretary of the Local Government Division (LGD), said the LGD with financial assistance of Danish Government has initiated a revision of sector development programme laying stress on integrated water supply issues particularly optimum use of surface water with an investment requirement of three billion US dollars by 2015.
The WASA chief, however, postulated a set of recommendations to preserve surface water sources of Dhaka city including proper enforcement of conservation act of water bodies, provision of mandatory Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for industries and strict enforcement of building code with provision of rain water preservation.