Work to start by next year

Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority will be able to start installing the third phase of Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Sayedabad in the capital by next year, said Taksim A Khan, managing director of Dhaka Wasa.Although the feasibility study is yet to be completed, foreign development partners have already assured Dhaka Wasa of bearing at least 50 percent of the total estimated cost of the project, he said.“Different development partners have already made commitments to finance about 50 percent of the total cost, which is estimated to be between US$ 400 and 500 million. We own the land, so we can start construction by 2014,” he told a workshop yesterday.Among the financers, Danish International Development Agency (Danida) will provide about US$ 100 million, he noted.The workshop on overview of the incomplete feasibility study for Sayedabad WTP was organised by Dhaka Wasa at a hotel in the capital.With the third phase completed, the Sayedabad WTP will be able to meet about 16 percent of the total projected demand for drinking water in Dhaka in 2035.The third phase of the project will add about 500 million litres a day to Dhaka Wasa supply.Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu said the Sayedabad WTP is a step forward to reduce overexploitation of groundwater in Dhaka city.Presided over by Taksimn A Khan, the workshop was also addressed by Planning Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam.