The government has launched a big project for Chittagong WASA to enhance freshwater supply in the port city that has been facing acute water crisis since a long. Upon implementation of Tk 1,036 crore ‘Bhandal Juri Water Supply Project,’ the government expects to add 60 million litres of fresh water per day to the Chittagong WASA’s existing capacity of 42 million litres per day. The Ecnec in a meeting on Tuesday gave nod to the project that seeks to supply piped drinking water along the Karnaphuli River. The demand for freshwater is growing everyday in Chittagong which is the country’s second largest city as well as its commercial capital.There are two government EPZs and one private EPZ in Chittagong apart from a number of industries. In addition to supplying freshwater to these areas and the growing population in the port city, Chittagong WASA also needs to supply freshwater to ocean-going ships at the Chittagong Port, planning commission sources said. “The project has been approved by Ecnec considering the growing demand for freshwater in the port city,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said after the Ecnec meeting. Economic Development of Cooperation Fund, Korea (KEDCF) has joined hands with the government to support the initiative with providing the major portion of the project cost. Apart from supplying 60 million litres of freshwater a day through pipeline along the Karnaphuli River, the project also aims at having an interconnection between the two banks of the Karnaphuli river, making Chittagong more suitable for setting up newer industries, official sources added. Chittagong WASA under the Local Government Division will implement the project by September 2020 in three upazilas — Boalmari, Patiya and Anwara. Of the total project costs, KEDCF is providing Tk 754.66 crore as project assistance while Tk 261.64 crore will come from the national exchequer and the rest of Tk 20 crore from the Chittagong Wasa’s own fund. The main project activities include acquisition and development of 50 acres of land, setting up a water treatment plant with the capacity of supplying 60 million litres of water a day, setting up some 133.3 kilometers of water transmission and distribution line, constructing two water reservoirs having capacity of preserving 8000 square metres and 2500 square metres of water, and constructing 30 staff quarters.
