Karnaphuli Water Supply Project starts

Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Syed Ashraful Islam, fourth from right, goes round Karnaphuli Water Supply Project in Pomra union of Chittagong's Rangunia upazila yesterday after inaugurating it. Photo: STAR

The long waited Karnaphuli Water Supply Project in Pomra union under Rangunia upazila of Chittagong was inaugurated yesterday.
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Syed Ashraful Islam formally inaugurated the Tk 1,510 crore project aimed at fulfilling the demand of pure drinking water of Chittagong city dwellers to a great extent.
Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is implementing the project. Wasa Chittagong also organised yesterday's inaugural ceremony.
At the programme, Syed Ashraful Islam said it is the first project regarding drinking water to be implemented in the last 27 years in Chittagong and thus, is a landmark in providing water to city dwellers.
Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud said water supply and sewerage system of Chittagong is not sufficient in serving a city with six million people.
Once the project is completed, around 26 percent of the city's total demand of drinking water will be met.
Wasa Chittagong undertook the project with major funding being provided by JICA. Under this project, water will be collected from the river Karnaphuli and will be purified in Pomra to supply to the city 35km away.

CHAOS AT THE PROGRAMME
Chaos marred the beginning of the programme as activists and leaders of local Awami League and its associate organisations were scuffling over getting on the stage.
Some AL activists and locals were vexed at Wasa Chittagong for not including the name of Hasan Mahmud in the project's brochure as the environment and forest minister, according to them, played a large role in the project's success especially in land acquisition.