Close coordination between RCC and RWASA stressed

Close coordination between the development works of Rajshahi City Corporation and Rajshahi Water and Sewerage Authority (RWASA) can be the crucial means of freeing the public in general from sufferings.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division and RCC Administration Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid revealed this while addressing a view-sharing meeting with RWASA officials at his office on Sunday.

He talked about the issue of pipeline installation on the city streets and payment of compensation.

RWASA Managing Director (MD) Rezaul Alam Sarker, its Deputy Managing Director Towhidur Rahman and Chief Engineer Parvez Mahmud were present at the meeting.

They told the meeting that the RWASA has taken initiatives to meet the demand of drinkable water for Rajshahi people through purifying water from the Padma river.

RWASA has been implementing a project with financial and technical support from Chinese Hunan Construction Engineering Group Company Limited to implement a water management system which will be transparent and accountable to all stakeholders.

The water treatment plant is being constructed in the Sarangpur area of Godagari upazila, about 26 kilometers off the Rajshahi city. Twenty percent of the work has already been completed.

Upon successful implementation of the project titled 'Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant', it will supply 20-crore litres of purified water every day. Chief Engineer Parvez Mahmud, who is also the director of the project, said treated water from the plant will be delivered to consumers' level through 26-kilometer main transmission and 48-kilometer primary and secondary pipelines.

Installation of the 26-km transmission pipeline along the Rajshahi- Chapainawabganj highway is currently in progress. As a whole, the water treatment plant project aims to ensure a safe and reliable drinking water supply for Rajshahi city and its surrounding areas by 2027.

This involves constructing a modern surface water treatment plant that will draw water from the Padma River and purify it for household consumption.

The Taka 4,062-crore project is part of a larger 40-year water supply management plan to ensure access to safe and wholesome drinking water. Parvez Mahmud said the core objective is to provide clean, potable water to all residents of Rajshahi city and its neighboring municipalities.

The project aims to address the current water deficit and ensure adequate water supply to meet the needs of the growing population. It will improve water quality by removing contaminants and harmful substances from the river water, making it safe for drinking apart from creating a sustainable and efficient water supply system for the long term.

The Chief Engineer of the project said it [the project] has a provision of repairing and renovating the old pipelines and hydrants in the city besides establishing a water management system that is transparent and accountable to all stakeholders.

He said daily water demand in the city is around 130 MLD at present and 98.037 MLD water is being extracted from underground through pumps.

, while 9 MLD from surface water, totalling 107.04 MLD to meet the demand. Simultaneously, they are supplying 10.70 crore liters of water daily to over 6.44 lakh people through 110 production pumps and 859 kilometres pipeline network.

RWASA Managing Director Rezaul Alam Sarker said there will be no water deficit in the city when the project is implemented successfully.
After meeting the water demands in the city, the RWASA will be able to supply drinkable water to the adjacent Nawhata and Katakhali municipalities.