No end to water crisis in Sylhet city in sight
Almost nothing done in four years, project director discharges duty from Dhaka
Dilapidated age-old overhead water tank at Topkhana in Sylhet city. Photo: STAR
Water crisis in Sylhet city will not be over soon. The city dwellers will have to wait for years more for a better situation as there is no sign of quick implementation of the much awaited 'Water supply, sanitation and drainage project for Sylhet and Barisal city corporations', sources said. After gathering dust for four years, it got a project director months ago, who is discharging his duties as additional job with office at the Public Health Engineering Department in Dhaka. The project initially involved Tk 40 crore including Tk 24 crore for Sylhet. It includes, land acquisition and development, replacement of production tube well, pump house construction and renovation of existing supply lines. Progress in implementation of the project is almost nil since the work is being done from Dhaka from the very beginning, an official at Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) told this correspondent yesterday seeking anonymity. The process for appointment of a consultant began only weeks ago, he said. Only Tk 2 lakh was sanctioned in 2006-07 financial year and Tk one crore in the current financial year (2007-2008). SCC sources admitted that they can meet only 40 per cent of the present demand for 5 crore litres of water a day. SSC Chief Executive Officer Kazi Abdul Noor said the demand is increasing every day as the city's population is swelling fast. The demand could be largely met if the project could be implemented, he said. The problem got confounded as four over head tanks of SCC are inoperative for long. Water is being supplied through 18 pumps. The age old plant at Topkhana is being used for purifying water collected from Surma river. Besides, there are problems like pilferage, wastage due to dilapidated condition of supply lines and corruption by a section of SCC staff, sources said. SCC officials said they are trying to improve the situation but the existing SCC facilities are too inadequate to the needs.
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