Sylhet to get its own Wasa soon: LGRD Minister

Sylhet Wasa will be established soon to solve the problem of water and sewerage in Sylhet metropolis, said Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam.

The minister said, "There is a need to build environment-friendly, sustainable and people-oriented drinking water supply and sanitary drainage systems for the people of the metropolis."

Sylhet is one of the most important cities in the country. Due to population and urbanisation, the dwellers need to be provided with much needed civic amenities, said the minister in a meeting on setting up of 'Water Supply and Sewerage Authority' (Sylhet WASA) in Sylhet City Corporation area as per "Water Supply and Sewerage Authority 1996" organized virtually yesterday.

Tajul Islam informed that necessary instructions have been given to the ministries, departments, offices and agencies concerned to take immediate action for issuing gazette notification, organogram, formulation of employment rules and other activities as initial steps for formation of Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) in Sylhet metropolis.

The minister also expressed hope that it will be possible to establish Sylhet Wasa very soon.

To this end, various steps have been taken to increase the use of river water in urban as well as rural areas, digging ponds, and using surface water through rainwater harvesting.

In this regard, he further said, in accordance with SDG, it has been assured to use 70% surface water by 2030. And Bangladesh will achieve the target before this time.

Meanwhile, taking part in the meeting, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the population of Sylhet has increased many times over. So it became urgent to establish a Wasa there.