Ctg Wasa initiates Tk5,152cr sewerage project for Kalurghat, Bakalia

Infographic: TBS

Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) has initiated a Tk5,152.56 crore project to establish a centralised sewerage system for the Kalurghat and Bakalia zones in the port city.

Under the "Chattogram Sewerage System Development Project (Catchment-2 & 4)," residents of these zones will gain access to improved sewage services.

This marks the city's second major sewerage project following the formulation of a master plan for a centralised sewerage system in 2017, which divided the city into six zones.

The project, approved during a recent Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, is expected to benefit 4 lakh people by 2035 and 18 lakh by 2070.

The project involves constructing a treatment plant in the Hamidchar area of Kalurghat with a daily capacity of 60,000 cubic metres.

It also includes the installation of 11 kilometres of main sewer lines, 70 kilometres each of branch and service lines, 932 manholes, and 14,000 house connections and catch pits.

The funding comprises Tk4,144 crore in loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), Tk581.56 crore in government loans to Chattogram Wasa, Tk387.71 crore in government grants, and Tk39 crore from Wasa's own funds.

Land acquisition 

Additionally, a supporting project titled "Land Acquisition for Construction of Sewage Treatment Plant in Kalurghat Area of Chattogram City" is being implemented.

This involves acquiring 78 acres of land at a cost of Tk2,154 crore, funded through a Tk1,292 crore government loan and a Tk862 crore grant.

As part of this project, water bodies and low-lying land will be raised by three metres. The project has passed initial evaluations and is awaiting final Ecnec approval.

Nurul Amin, Project Director of Chattogram Wasa, said, "The project duration is from January 2025 to December 2032. The design, drawing, and tendering processes will be completed in the first three years, and full-scale construction will start in the fourth year."

Current challenges and project delays

In 2017, Chattogram Wasa launched a sewerage master plan dividing the city into six catchments.

The first sewerage project, covering Catchment-1 in Halishahar, has faced significant delays since its approval in 2018. Estimated at Tk3,808 crore, the project's cost has risen to Tk4,408 crore, pending final approval.

This project includes a treatment plant with a capacity of 10 crore litres of waste per day, a faecal sludge treatment facility, and 200 kilometres of sewer lines. It aims to serve 20 lakh people across 36 square kilometres in 22 city wards.

Despite an initial completion target of 2023, only 51% of the work has been completed over six years, requiring two extensions.

Currently, Chattogram produces 400 million litres of untreated sewage daily, much of which flows into the Karnaphuli and Halda rivers, eventually polluting the Bay of Bengal.

Additionally, the limited capacity for faecal sludge management exacerbates the issue, with only 35 cubic metres of the daily 539 cubic metres treated by local authorities and NGOs. The rest is discharged into water bodies, posing environmental and health risks.

Makshud Alam, Chief Engineer of Chattogram Wasa, noted, "To save the Karnaphuli and Halda rivers, the city's primary sources of drinking water, bringing all areas under sewerage management is imperative."

Future projects in the pipeline

Chattogram Wasa has plans for three additional catchments under its six-area sewerage master plan. These projects aim to connect the city's 89 lakh residents to a comprehensive sewerage system.

The Fatehabad catchment (STP-3) project, estimated at Tk3,360 crore, has completed its feasibility study with funding from the South Korea Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

This project will serve 30 lakh people in Chattogram and Hathazari upazila, treating 60 million litres of waste daily.

The North Kattli catchment (STP-5) project, estimated at Tk2,835 crore, is being studied by the French Development Agency (AFD). It will treat 50 million litres of waste daily for 8.5 lakh people.

A third project for the Patenga catchment (STP-6) is proposed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Marubeni Corporation, at an estimated cost of Tk9,897 crore.

This initiative will serve 11.5 lakh people, treating 5 million litres of waste daily. These projects are currently under review by the Planning Commission and other government committees.

The new sewerage initiatives reflect Chattogram Wasa's efforts to modernise the city's sanitation infrastructure and mitigate environmental hazards.

However, challenges such as cost escalations and project delays underscore the need for streamlined implementation to achieve timely progress.