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Published : 23 Mar 2025, 09:52 PM
The interim government has revised the cost of the Saidabad Water Treatment Plant Project Phase-3 from Tk 75 billion, approved during the previous Awami League government, by around Tk 85 billion.
The second amendment to the project was approved on Sunday at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Chief Advisor and ECNEC Chairperson Muhammad Yunus.
Following the meeting, Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud briefed journalists.
He said, “This is a Dhaka WASA project. It started in 2015, but the progress has been only two percent. This year’s allocation was Tk 150 million.
“Everyone understands the key issue in Dhaka is finding a sustainable solution instead of relying on groundwater extraction … ultimately, it will not be resolved.”
The advisor suggested the government is dragging its feet on the project due to the groundwater crisis and the promise of foreign loans for water treatment.
When the project was initiated, its timeline was set from July 2015 to June 2020, with an estimated cost of Tk 45.97 billion.
The Awami League government later revised the cost, increasing it to Tk 75.18 billion in the first amendment.
The interim government has raised the cost by an additional Tk 84.97 billion, bringing the total to Tk 161.48 billion, and extending the timeline to June 2029.
Despite the increase in cost, the advisor said approval would be subject to conditions.
The decision to implement the project will be taken after reviewing the progress and availability of river water.
He said, “Water cannot be sourced from Buriganga due to its severe pollution, which contains a mix of chemicals, making treatment extremely costly.
“It cannot be easily restored. Then there’s the Shitalakkha—water from the Buriganga has been diverted there, but it’s just as polluted.
“This isn’t ordinary pollution; it contains industrial waste and chemicals, making treatment far more expensive.”
Indicating the decision to bring water from Meghna was made considering different sources, the advisor said: “Meghna is north of Narayanganj. The problem with sourcing water from there is the location has been decided at Saharia in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon Upazila.
“We plan to install a pipeline along the right bank of the Meghna River and transport treated water to Saidabad.
“However, this project is also stalled because the Meghna’s condition is deteriorating—the river itself is dying.
“Many factories are being built around Meghna. When this plan is implemented, it will likely take a long time.
“If the Meghna River also becomes heavily polluted by then and a water crisis emerges, the situation will repeat itself.
"We have approved this project for now. Work is ongoing along the banks of the Meghna River.
“We are now having to drill deeper and deeper for groundwater. Eventually, it will no longer be available.
"That’s why surface water must be used. But while it cannot be wasted, there are also significant financial commitments—Tk 40 billion from Bangladesh and Tk 110 billion in foreign loans.”
Explaining the lack of progress despite the project's necessity, he said: “It’s a massive project, but no one is moving forward because there is no clear technical solution.”
