Use water, gas, power sensibly
PM urges Dhaka residents
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina goes around the Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant phase-II after commissioning the new phase of the plant in the capital yesterday. With the launching of the new phase, the plant's capacity will be doubled from 22.5 crore litre a day and there will be no water crisis in the city, claims Dhaka Wasa. Photo: BSS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged Dhaka city dwellers to be more judicious in using water, gas, electricity and other civic amenities considering the scarcity of the natural resources. “There should be no misuse...it is the demand of time,†she said while addressing a function over the inauguration of Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant Phase-2 at the plant premises. With the plant's inauguration, the Wasa supply line will have an additional 22.50 crore litres of safe drinking water every day. “The judicious use of water will also lead to reduced bills for the users and help them save money...there should be more campaign by Wasa to create awareness in this regard,†said Hasina. Voicing her optimism to create a livable Dhaka, she commended Dhaka Wasa's initiative to preserve rainwater and recharge groundwater. Hasina said the Awami League government took Sayedabad Water Treatment Project in 1996 and started implementing the project in three phases. The second phase, work of which started in 2010, was inaugurated yesterday, six months ahead of schedule. Phase-2 of the project was implemented costing Tk 1,140 crore with Danida of Denmark contributing 68 percent of the total cost, excluding the cost of land. Svend Olling announced that his government would provide US$ 100 million for the project's 3rd phase. Hasina mentioned that the government plans to set up water treatment plants at Josholdia near Mawa Ghat to use water from the Padma while at Khilkhet near the Meghna to reduce dependency on groundwater. As the water of the rivers surrounding the city are basically the sources of water for most of the treatment plants in Dhaka, the government is removing wastes from the beds of those rivers to ensure contamination-free water. Besides, a project has been undertaken to bring water from the Jamuna River to increase the flow of rivers surrounding Dhaka city during the dry season. LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam chaired the function where State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Dhaka Wasa Board Chairman Md Rahmatullah and Managing Director Taqsem A Khan also spoke.
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