China to provide $280m for Hatirjheel protection

China has agreed to provide $280 million to Bangladesh for implementing the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant project, aimed at protecting the nearby Hatirjheel project and providing cent percent environment-friendly sewerage facility to city dwellers.

The plant, having the capacity to treat 500 million litres of sewage a day, will be built at Khilgaon in the city.

A framework agreement in this regard is likely to be signed on Friday during Chinese President Xi Jinping's Dhaka visit, said an official at the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

The official said the Chinese Embassy on July 10 sent a draft framework agreement to provide the Chinese government's concessional loan at 2 percent annual interest rate.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project last year with an outlay of Tk 3,317.77 crore. The Local Government Division has already signed a commercial contract with Hydro China Corporation for implementing the project.

Once implemented, the project will help make the Balu River water free from pollution through treating the sewage of Hatirjheel and the adjacent areas.

It will also provide cent percent environment-friendly sewerage facility to the city dwellers alongside treating the sewage waste of Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Bashundhara, Mohakhali and Tejgaon.

The Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) will implement the project by December 2019.

Of the total project cost of Tk. 3,317.77 crore, Tk 1,123.77 crore will come from the national exchequer, Tk 2,184 crore as assistance from China Exim Bank, and Tk 10 crore from the organisation's own fund.