Acute water crisis in port city

Crisis of drinking water in the port city of Chittagong has been acute for years. And its demand is increasing fast with the growth of population day by day.

The authorities concerned in Chittagong WASA could not meet even 50 per cent of the demand so far. Although there was no dearth of WASA officials using hyperbole regularly, they rarely take any initiative in this regard. They are quite accustomed to giving promises of new projects to mitigate the perennial water crisis in the second biggest city of the country. But not a single project has yet seen the light of the day.

However, a glimmer of hope has been raised with the recent visit of Sutumu Uchida, the Bangladesh representative of Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), in the port city as well as his subsequent meeting with the WASA officials including its chairman here.

The city with nearly 35 lakh people needs 10 crore gallon of water everyday. But Chittagong WASA has capacity for supplying only 2.5 crore gallons against the daily demand. In such a situation, a large section of the city dwellers have long been deprived of smooth running water. They are to pass their everyday life in untold sufferings due to this crisis.

The situation further worsened in the recent past following rise of irregularities, system loss and feud among a section of officials. As a result, Chittagong WASA had lost accountability and earned a bad name, thereby displeasing the donors to a great extent.

Irregularities and corruption at a time at Chittagong WASA reached such a height that one major donor from Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) got seriously disturbed and threatened to withdraw financial support assured by it for some key WASA projects involving huge amount of money. Later on, JBIC set some pre-conditions for grant of Tk.500 crore as grant for one of the largest projects of WASA --Mohara Water Treatment Extension Project -- at city's Kalurghat area near the bank of river Karnaphuli. The conditions include reduction of system loss, irregularities and corruption at different levels within the WASA and enhancement of revenue collection.

A task force formed midway last year to check corruption and irregularities, however, have done some commendable job bringing forth a little bit of pride for this important government institution. As per recommendation, the authorities removed some top officials and staff for their alleged involvement in irregularities, corruption and embezzlement of government fund during the last seven months.

Although suspension of a few officials had drawn mixed reaction and left question marks to the 'real intention' of the authorities, it is true that the 'cleansing' efforts is now paying dividends to run smoothly this institution and to implement the major projects like Mohara Treatment Project. System loss and irregularities have been reduced quite substantially paving the way for obtaining green signal in terms of financial assistance from JBIC.

The Tk 505 crore Mohara Water Treatment Extension Project was taken up during the Awami League government in 1999 to mitigate the water crisis and to produce additional two crore (20-million) gallons water per day. The project has been shelved till date due to irregularities, system loss and corruption at Chittagong WASA.

JBIC chief Uchida visited Chittagong WASA and its different plants and projects and had elaborate discussion with WASA chairman Brigadier General Azizur Rahman and other high officials in November last. WASA chairman had apprised the JBIC boss of the overall activities of WASA and its future projects.

Uchida reportedly expressed his contentment over the present situation and activities at Chittagong WASA and assured WASA officials of proper step and initiative in releasing the aforesaid grant as early as possible for the Mohara Project, sources said.

WASA officials are of the view that if the project is implemented it would help ease water crisis in the port city greatly.