WASA project directors face removal threat over delays, poor progress
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam has warned that strict action will be taken against the project directors of Dhaka WASA's ongoing projects if no visible progress is made within the next two months.
"Officials who fail to deliver will be removed from their positions," he said.
The state minister issued the warning while speaking as the chief guest at a review meeting on the overall activities of Dhaka WASA at the organisation's headquarters in Karwan Bazar today, according to a press release.
He said delays lasting years in implementing projects after their approval were unacceptable, directing officials concerned to expedite the implementation of ongoing projects.
Shahe Alam instructed the authorities to complete the pipeline connection project from Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant to Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara as soon as possible.
He also directed them to prepare a Development Project Proposal (DPP) promptly to establish a water supply network in Purbachal area.
Addressing the role of WASA boards, Shahe Alam said that although the existing law provides for boards in WASA organisations, the government can form or dissolve them at any time.
A review by the ministry had found that, in many cases, WASA boards were obstructing public service activities or engaging in unnecessary interference, slowing down operations, he said.
Against this backdrop, he added that the government had decided to amend the law to abolish the boards of all WASA organisations across Bangladesh.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the slow pace of WASA's activities, the state minister said Dhaka's daily water demand and supply currently stood at 314 crore litres each.
Water demand is increasing alongside the growth of the city's population and the number of households, he said.
However, he said no significant new initiatives or satisfactory progress in project implementation had been observed in WASA's activities over the past seven months, describing the situation as deeply disappointing.
The state minister noted that if a water shortage occurred, the government would ultimately be held responsible.
He therefore instructed officials to take effective and timely measures to address the challenges faced by Dhaka residents.
Discussing water sources, the state minister said 74 per cent of the water supplied by Dhaka WASA currently comes from groundwater, while the remaining 26 per cent comes from surface water.
To reduce earthquake-related risks, he stressed the need to lower dependence on groundwater to 20-25 per cent by expediting surface water-based projects.
On WASA's financial capacity and modernisation, Mir Shahe Alam said the organisation must increase its own revenue while maintaining service standards.
This would help reduce excessive dependence on foreign loans and enable it to implement public welfare projects using its own funds.
He also directed officials to strengthen automation in meter reading and billing.
In addition, he instructed the authorities to prepare a new, comprehensive organisational structure and staffing plan, taking into account water demand in 2050, and submit it to the ministry for approval.
The state minister ordered officials to identify and take strict action against illegal and unauthorised water connections across the city.
He called for immediate measures against influential individuals or political miscreants involved in such activities.
He also warned the Collective Bargaining Agents (CBA) and employee organisations against using party or political influence to disrupt public services, stressing that such interference would not be tolerated in a service-oriented institution.
To prevent water wastage, he directed officials to conduct awareness campaigns encouraging people to use water responsibly, including turning off taps while brushing their teeth or shaving.
Reiterating his warning, Shahe Alam said he would return in two months to review WASA's activities.
By then, he expected to see visible and fundamental changes that would help provide Dhaka residents with greater relief from water-related problems.
The meeting was chaired by Dhaka WASA Managing Director Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman.
Senior officials, representatives of the engineers' association, the diploma engineers' association, CBA leaders and employees from various levels of the organisation attended the meeting.
