Wasa officials had earlier said they would start the construction work by June. But they failed to hand over the land to Paragon Enterprise Limited, the company which got the contract.

"It will take about one month to fill up the wetland and make it ready for setting up the plant. By that time the company will finalise their design and work plan," said Wasa Managing Director ANH Akhter Hossain.

Wasa signed the contract with Paragon earlier this month.

The Tk 13-crore project includes setting up of a water plant and a plastic bottle manufacturing unit," said the Wasa managing director. "We hope the project will complete by December this year."

The plant is likely to start production in January next year.

The plant will produce 10,000 litres of water an hour. Wasa officials said they will provide the customers with pure drinking water at the cheapest possible price.

"Our price will be at least 30 percent lower than that of other companies," Akhter Hossain said.

The project was initiated during the tenure of the previous government but Wasa took three years to complete the tender process.

Initially it was decided that a mineral water plant would be set up at the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant. In March 2004, the LGRD ministry suggested setting up of both water and bottle manufacturing plants.

"Now we have decided to set up both the plants on Wasa's own land," said the Wasa managing director.