FE Report
The World Bank (WB) has asked for improving implementation progress of its funded Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation (CWSIS) Project.
The project aims at increasing supply of safe and clean water in Chittagong by constructing selected water production, transmission, distribution and storage facilities.
A WB press release said on Tuesday, in April 2014, the project was restructured with revised and reduced project scope to enable it to focus on a number of key major activities.
It said further adjustment of project scope may be needed to allow it to meet its revised implementation targets.
A recent review of the project has focused on identifying key issues to help improve implementation, it added.
The Chittagong Water and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives is implementing the project under the WB's IDA credit of US$ 157.8 million.
The project has initiated procurement process for engaging contractors to fulfill the requirements of a number of development works including the Modunaghat water treatment plant (WTP).
The bank said, preparation of detailed designs and tender documents for the remaining major investment activities including transmission pipeline, booster station and priority distribution networks are at an advance stage and procurement processes are about to be initiated.
Once completed, these are expected to increase water production as well as address the widening gaps between water demand and production in Chittagong, it added.
The project is also supporting the expansion of piped water supply services to selected low-income communities through installation of deep tube-well, distribution lines and household-level connections.
Besides, activities related to the modernisation of the CWASA's operational systems and processes, as well as the investment planning for sanitation and drainage in Chittagong city are being supported under the project.
