Barisal WTP
This paper recently reported that a surface water treatment plant (WTP) in Beltola area of Barisal is in shambles even before it could be inaugurated. Due to irregularities and mismanagement in the process, parts of the plant's infrastructure and machinery have broken down and washed away, since, without permits, it was built along the bank of the Kirtankhola river. The 25 crore project, to be built by the The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and handed over to the Barisal City Corportion (BCC), has not only been able to alleviate the 2 crore litres of supply shortage, it has been an wastage of a huge sum of money.
The plant was built in contravention to the rule that structures have to be at least 100 feet away from river banks. Yet, the foundation stone was laid in 2012, and only now we are hearing that no permission from the Water Development Board (WDB) was taken. The plant, which was to become operational in 2016, is yet to be handed over to BCC. Since there are outstanding electricity bills owed to the West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd by BCC, the plant is currently without any supply. Lastly, it has been pointed out that running a plant at the location could worsen erosion of the river bank.
No effective steps were taken since 2012 to mitigate and solve these foreseeble and avoidable issues. And it is not only one person to blame: the allegations run across the DPHE, BCC and the ministry concerned. The patchwork solutions that are now being thought of to salvage the plant do not assure us, and the environmental threats will remain. We have seen these issues are symptomatic of these bodies across the country. Such unplanned and shoddy work, causing huge wastage of public money, are being done with impunity.
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