24-hour safe drinking water for city dwellers by 2021

Dhaka city dwellers are likely to get supply of safe drinking water round-the-clock by 2021, thanks to a government's project for taking the capital's water supply system and the quality of water to the global standard.

Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) will implement the $408 million project with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Of the amount, ADB will provide $275 million from its ordinary capital resources under a soft-term loan agreement. 

The government and the ADB will sign the agreement early next week to implement the Dhaka Water Supply Network Improvement Project by June, 2021, officials at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) said.

ERD Senior Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin and ADB Country Director Kazuhiko Higuchi will sign the loan agreement on behalf of their respective sides while Managing Director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) Engineer Tasqem A. Khan and ADB Country Director Kazuhiko Higuchi will initial the project agreement at the NEC conference room in the city on Sunday. 

"Dhaka city dwellers will get supply of safe drinking water 24-hour a day once the project is implemented," Deputy Project Director Engineer Abdus Salam told BSS. 

He said the project is aiming at improving the water supply system in Dhaka by making it more reliable, sustainable, and climate-resilient. It would also enhance the efficiency of the water distribution network and improve the service delivery and the capacity of DWASA.

The project would also help DWASA to prepare and implement an operational and financial improvement plan by enhancing the existing five-year corporate business plan and build capacity for planning, design, construction supervision, and project management, he said.

Besides, the deputy project director said it would facilitate DWASA to prepare and implement a plan to create more public awareness about demand control, water conservation and health and hygiene of water usage.

Under the project, DWASA will also prepare and implement a water quality monitoring system, a gender action plan and an enhance project readiness programme for future investment.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the project on May 24, 2016 to improve the water supply system for Dhaka city dwellers.

Source: BSS