China to bankroll sewage treatment plant
The government is set to build a sewage treatment plant in the capital's Khilgaon area at a cost of Tk 3,318 crore, two-thirds of which will be financed by China.
The proposal for the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant project, which is scheduled for completion in 2019, will be placed in today's meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council.
China will provide Tk 2,184 crore, or $280 million, in soft loans; the rate of interest will be about 2 percent, according to a high official of the planning ministry.
As was the case in previous loans from China, a firm nominated by its government will implement the project.
The Chinese government has already nominated Hydro China Corporation for the project, with a draft commercial contract already signed with the company in November last year.
For the project, 60 acres of land will be acquired in Gazaria area, Khilgaon.
Once the plant has been built, sewage from Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Bashundhara, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Eskaton, and parts of Dhanmondi and Kalabagan could be treated using modern techniques, according to the proposal from the planning ministry.
At present, sewage from the proposed areas is released untreated into Balu and Shitalakhya rivers, threatening river ecology.
With financing from the World Bank, a sewage master plan has been prepared, under which 11 plants will be around Dhaka.
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