Satkania DPHE pioneers providing safe water, sanitation

Satkania Public Health Engineering Department (SDPHE), under the Local Government Division, is a vital organization dedicated to improving public health in Satkania. Established in 1936, it began providing safe water supply and took on sanitation responsibilities in 1945.

Following Bangladesh's independence, it played a key role in rehabilitating the damaged water supply and sanitation systems, contributing to the nation's development. The Public Health Engineering Office ensures safe water supply and sanitation across the upazila, excluding areas under WASA.

In Satkania municipality as well as upazila, safe water and sanitation systems are now accessible to the public. This office is responsible for the installation and maintenance of tube wells and sanitary latrines.

It also conducts technical support and awareness programs through WATSAN committees at the union level. The primary goal of the Satkania Public Health Engineering Office is to ensure safe water and hygienic sanitation systems for every resident in the area. Efforts are also being made to reduce dependence on groundwater by treating and using water from ponds, rivers, and reservoirs.

Currently, the office has seven staff members, including one Assistant Sub. Engineer Mizanur Rahman Faisal, serving as the head,. Other team members include mechanics, office assistants, and labourers working collectively.

Currently, with funding from ADB and PEDP, there are seven projects in the entire upazila, including the Safe Water Supply Project, Rural Water Supply Project, Construction of Wash Blocks and Installation of Tubewells in Primary Schools, Wash Block Construction Project in Nationalized Primary Schools, Community and Public Toilet Installation, Water Supply Project through Municipality Pipelines, Municipal Area Drainage System Construction, Solid Waste Management, and Human Waste Management Projects. The estimated cost of these projects is 5 crore 50 lakh BDT, of which work worth 2 crore 60 lakh BDT is ongoing.

Chattogram Public Health Engineer Palash Das said, "Despite our limited manpower, the way we are progressing, our overall activities will lead this area towards a healthy and sustainable future." In this context, Upazila Sub-Assistant Public Health Engineer Mizanur Rahman Faisal stated, "Our goal is to ensure safe water and hygienic sanitation systems for every resident in the area."

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