Government Plans to Treat Saline Water and Supply It Through Pipelines: Shahe Alam
The government is planning to treat saline water and distribute it across the country through pipelines, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Tuesday morning after meeting with the Danish ambassador.
Shahe Alam said international standards recommend that only around 30% of a city’s water supply should come from groundwater. However, Dhaka currently relies on groundwater for about 74% of its supply, while only 24% comes from surface water.
He warned that excessive groundwater extraction could have serious consequences for the environment and climate and may also increase the risk of earthquakes.
Considering the issue, the prime minister has instructed authorities to explore treating saline water through treatment plants, similar to approaches used in Middle Eastern countries.
The government has already ordered feasibility studies for two major projects at Chandpur and Mongla, where rivers meet the sea, he said. The feasibility studies have begun, with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) offering assistance.
“We will distribute this water through pipelines to every district and upazila, just as gas and electricity are distributed through national grids,” Shahe Alam said.
He said Dhaka currently needs around 325 million litres of water per day, while Dhaka WASA supplies approximately 295-305 million litres from groundwater and surface water sources, leaving a daily shortfall.
To address the shortage and meet the needs of Dhaka’s growing population, the government has undertaken the Gandharbpur Water Treatment Project in Rupganj, Narayanganj. Once operational, the project is expected to supply 500 million litres of water daily to Dhaka from the Meghna River.
The minister also said discussions with the Danish ambassador included the Sayedabad Water Treatment Project, estimated to cost Tk16,000 crore. Under the project, a treatment plant will supply 950 million litres of water per day from the Meghna River through Dhaka WASA.
Around Tk12,000 crore worth of work has already been completed, he said. Although the project, which began in 2015, was originally scheduled for completion in 2030, the government now aims to complete it by 2029.
Denmark is expected to provide around Tk4,500 crore in support for the final phase, including Tk1,500 crore as a grant and Tk3,000 crore as a concessional loan. The loan will carry an interest rate of around 1.5-2% and will be repayable over 20 years.
Shahe Alam said Denmark is also providing around Tk100 crore for water treatment, water supply and related projects in Rohingya camps.
The two sides also discussed renewable energy. Denmark has expressed interest in investing in solar power projects in Bangladesh.
The minister said Bangladesh also requested Danish investment in waste management, particularly waste-to-energy projects. Denmark has agreed to conduct feasibility studies to determine possible areas of cooperation.