Fate of Chittagong WASA's water supply project hangs in balance
Saturday, 21 March 2009
The fate of Chittagong WASA's Tk 9.62 billion (962.9 crore) 'Karnaphuli Water Supply Project' hangs in the balance due to complication over acquisition of 31 acres at Pomara in Rangunia Upazila of the district, reports UNB.
Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) undertook the gigantic project with assistance from development partner Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), presently known as JICA, in 2006 amid severe water crisis in the port city of some 4.0 million people.
Of the total project cost, JBIC is supposed to provide Tk 6935.74 million while the government Tk 2693.26 million, as the project aims to produce 136.0 million litres of water a day.
"But our development partner, JBIC, appears to shy away from the important project, as we cannot settle the dispute over land acquisition for the plant in Rangunia," said a senior CWASA official wishing anonymity.
Asked to explain the problem over the land acquisition, he said the problem has arisen as the landowners, numbering only 5 to 6, declined to sell their lands on the plea that those are highly fertile for growing crops thrice a year. The owners also unofficially said the compensation for the lands should be much higher than that of the government.
ECNEC approved the project on May 10, 2006 and it was scheduled to be completed by June 2010.
CWASA installations now produce 200 million litres of water a day against the demand for over 500 million litres, the official said adding that the coverage ratio would reach around 60 per cent on completion of this project.
This project, he said, is very important as the government in its National Water Management Plan targets to achieve access to safe drinking water for everybody by 2010.
Current issues like salinity in the Halda River and presence of arsenic in shallow wells in most parts of Chittagong City has given more importance to the proposed Karnaphuli Water Supply Project, the CWASA official said.
He said enhancement of water supply capacity in Chittagong City is the government's priority, as water supply now is a mere one-third of potential demand and service coverage rate limited at 40 per cent in the city.
According to the official, the local administration could hasten the land acquisition process, as the Land Acquisition Department is under the Deputy Commissioner.
Another CWASA official, however, blamed the local political leaders for "double standard" in dealing with the project.
Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) undertook the gigantic project with assistance from development partner Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), presently known as JICA, in 2006 amid severe water crisis in the port city of some 4.0 million people.
Of the total project cost, JBIC is supposed to provide Tk 6935.74 million while the government Tk 2693.26 million, as the project aims to produce 136.0 million litres of water a day.
"But our development partner, JBIC, appears to shy away from the important project, as we cannot settle the dispute over land acquisition for the plant in Rangunia," said a senior CWASA official wishing anonymity.
Asked to explain the problem over the land acquisition, he said the problem has arisen as the landowners, numbering only 5 to 6, declined to sell their lands on the plea that those are highly fertile for growing crops thrice a year. The owners also unofficially said the compensation for the lands should be much higher than that of the government.
ECNEC approved the project on May 10, 2006 and it was scheduled to be completed by June 2010.
CWASA installations now produce 200 million litres of water a day against the demand for over 500 million litres, the official said adding that the coverage ratio would reach around 60 per cent on completion of this project.
This project, he said, is very important as the government in its National Water Management Plan targets to achieve access to safe drinking water for everybody by 2010.
Current issues like salinity in the Halda River and presence of arsenic in shallow wells in most parts of Chittagong City has given more importance to the proposed Karnaphuli Water Supply Project, the CWASA official said.
He said enhancement of water supply capacity in Chittagong City is the government's priority, as water supply now is a mere one-third of potential demand and service coverage rate limited at 40 per cent in the city.
According to the official, the local administration could hasten the land acquisition process, as the Land Acquisition Department is under the Deputy Commissioner.
Another CWASA official, however, blamed the local political leaders for "double standard" in dealing with the project.