Local councillor proposes WASA sewerage plant in open space, not residential area

Dhaka North City Corporation councillor Mohammad Nasir Uddin demanded relocation of the proposed Sewerage Treatment Plant of Dhaka WASA in Ward 53, Dhaka North, to an open space adjacent to residential areas. 

 At a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Tuesday, he urged the authorities concerned to move the project from residential areas to another location in Dhaur mouza, Gram Bhatulia and Ashutia, as proposed by him.

The councillor said, at present a sewerage treatment plant is to be set up in Dhaur and Nalbhog mouzas of Dhaka north, adjacent to the Uttara 3rd Project.
 
If the plant is set up in this place, it will pose a health risk to a large number of people, increase the misery of people in a densely populated residential area, increase air pollution in the vicinity, and destroy the beauty of the nearby police lines, Ahsania Mission Engineering College, and Milestone School and College, he added. 
 
He further said that if the project is implemented here, more than 300 households will be evicted for the inevitable land acquisition required, affecting residents severely.
 
The road earlier laid down for the master plan Detailed Area Plan-DAP, prepared by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, was damaged in the process of determining the location of the sewerage treatment plant, he also alleged.
 
The councillor said, "My proposed location is a completely open space. If the project is implemented there, it will also be possible to save about Tk700 crore that would otherwise have to be spent for land acquisition."
 
Local people are in a panic with regard to the proposed sewerage treatment plant, evicting them and other facilities in the area in the process, the councillor complained. 
 
Representing locals, Abdul Baten, Mohammad Haris Mia, Azharul Islam, Mobinul Islam and other area residents were present at the event.