CHATTOGRAM, Dec 24: Two sewage projects under Chattogram WASA are now awaiting approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
The projects are Catchment 3 and 5, which are currently being presented to the Planning Commission for approval at the ECNEC meeting, according to Chattogram WASA's Superintending Engineer and Project Director.
He hoped that these projects may be approved by the ECNEC in the first quarter of the next year.
He said, already four projects under the 'Chattogram Sewerage System Development'have been approved by the ECNEC.
Earlier on November 27, the interim government has approved the project 'Chattogram Sewerage System Development (Catchment 2 and 4) by ECNEC.
The approved project of the 'Chattogram Sewerage System Development (Catchment 2 and 4) involved an estimated cost of Tk 5,152 crore. Of them Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide an amount of Tk 4,144 crore; Bangladesh government will provide Tk 969 crore and the Chattogram WASA will provide Tk 39 crore.
Meanwhile, the Development Project Proposal (DPP) of Catchment area 5 and 3 of Sewerage Treatment Plant under Chattogram WASA have been submitted to the Planning Commission for approval earlier by the ECNEC.
Superintending Engineer of Chattogram WASA and the Project Director Ariful Islam said that the entire sewerage Treatment project has been implemented in phases dividing the city into six zones. A total of six Catchment plants will be installed in six zones, namely Catchment-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively.
A French firm Seuraica has already completed the feasibility study of Catchment-5.
He said, a Korean firm has conducted the study of Catchment-3 and submitted the DPP to the Planning Commission. The AFD (Associated Francis Development) of France has agreed to finance the Catchment 5.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram WASA appointed a transaction Adviser for its sewerage plant of Catchment-6. In this connection, the Chattogram WASA signed an agreement with a joint venture organisation of Bangladesh-Italy-India GTCBL-IQT-Innovest-BETSJV in August last year. The appointed transaction adviser has been conducting a detailed feasibilty study of the project which will be implemented under Public Private Partnership (PPP) and G to G system. Meanwhile, Marubeni Corporation of Japan will implement the Catchment-6 project of sewage treatment plant. Under the agreement, the Marubeni Corporation will invest at around 325 million US Dollar totalling of taka 3,510 crore in the project. Over 5 lac residents of the city at Patenga area will get benefit of sanitation facilities under the project, Superintending Engineer of Chattogram WASA added.
The project will be implemented in four years, starting from January next to December 2028, he said.
The catchment-6 of the Sewage treatment plant include starting from Customs point at Patenga over an area of 28.5 square kilometres and five lacs people will benefitted from the project, PD said. The Fatehabad catchment (STP-3) project, estimated at Tk3,360 crore, has completed its feasibility study with funding from the South Korea Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
This project will serve 30 lakh people in Chattogram and Hathazari upazila, treating 60 million litres of waste daily.
The North Kattli catchment (STP-5) project, estimated at Tk2,835 crore, is being studied by the French Development Agency (AFD). It will treat 50 million litres of waste daily for 8.5 lakh people.
A third project for the Patenga catchment (STP-6) is proposed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Marubeni Corporation, at an estimated cost of Tk9,897 crore.
Meanwhile, nearly 60 per cent works of the Catchment-1 of sewage treatment plant of Chattogram WASA have so far been completed. "In the Catchment-1 project, over 28,000 connections will be given in 21 Wards of 41 of Chattogram City Corporation," he added. The Korean firm is conducting the works of the treatment including the installation of 90 km long pipeline while the Chinese firms are completing the installation of 60 km and 50 km long pipeline. The Catchment-1 is being implemented at taka 3,808 crore. The WASA management started the works over 163 acres of land at Halishahar area. Under the projects, a total of 200 km long pipelines will be installed. After completion of the project, there will be no need of septic tanks in any building in the city as all household septic dirt will directly go to sewerage treatment plant rather Karnaphuli River. The sewage treatment plant will be set up on 165 acres of land in city's Halishahar area.
Engineer Ariful confirmed that the entire Chattogram city would come under complete sewer system by 2030 next.
He said, the catchment-1 will be completed by 2026 next, catchment 2 and 4 will be completed by 2030; catchment-5 will be completed by 2029; and catchment-6 will be completed by 2030.
"As a result, the entire port city will come under full sewer system by 2030 next," Arif confirmed.
