PM Sheikh Hasina inaugurates Padma Water Treatment Plant

"The pace of development could not be stopped by hurling few bombs or pelting stones. They are wrong who are doing this," she said laying foundation of Padma (Jashaldia) Water Treatment Plant (first phase).

Addressing a function on the occasion at a city hotel the Prime Minister said a vested section doesn't like the government's development activities and nation's progress and they are out to frustrate the development efforts when people remain in peace and comfort.

Holding BNP-Jamaat clique responsible for the subversive activities she said they burnt down most of the public and private buses we have procured for commuters causing immense sufferings of the people.

"They are now moving with a orchestrated plan to kill foreigners to making the situation unstable after their abortive attempt to cripple the country by killing local people," the prime minister said adding that people now clearly aware about the perpetrators of the recent occurrences.

Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives Engineer Mosharraf Hossain presided over the function while Managing Director of Dhaka Wasa Taksem A Khan gave welcome address.

Chinese ambassador Ma Mingquing and Ms. Luo Yan, chairman and president of China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd, constructing company of project and secretary of Local Government Division Abdul Malek attended the function as guests.

The Prime Minister said her government has ensured equal development of urban and rural areas and reduce the economic disparity between rich and poor which is the basic theme development.

Sheikh Hasina said her government have never given indulgence to any injustice in the past and it would not happen in future also. Pointing her government's steadfast stand against the terrorists and militants she said Bangladesh is not a place for them.

In this regard the Prime Minister sought support of people of all strata saying the government needs cooperation of every people to combat the evil force to continue the pace of development and achieve the cherished goal of economic prosperity.

The Padma (Jashaldia) Water Treatment Plant (phase-1) would be constructed at Jashaldia under Louhjong Upazila of Munsiganj district at a cost of Taka 3,508 crore with the financial support of China. The project designed to produce 45 crore liter water a day would be completed in April 2018.

The water of the plant would be supplied to meet the water demand of Dhaka City's Mitford, Nawabpur, Lalbagh, Hazaribagh, Dhanmondi, MOhammadpur and adjacent areas, WASA sources said.

The project would reduce the pressure on groundwater resources and develop an environment friendly and sustainable water supply system in Dhaka City, the sources said.

Pointing out the initiatives of her government to resolve the acute water crisis in the city the Prime Minister said the Saidabad Water Treatment Plant (phase-1) was constructed by her government after assuming office in 1996. Her government also initiated for second phase of the project which faced debacle during BNP-Jamaat government regime.

After coming to power in 2009, she said, Awami League government completed the second phase of Saidabad project which raised the production capacity of WASA to 242 crore comparing to daily demand for 220 to 225 crore liter. Before that the capital was reeling on acute water crisis as the production was 188 crore liter against the total demand for 212 crore liter, she said.

The Prime Minister said three more water treatment plants are waiting for construction. These plants would be constructed at Dhalpur (Saidabad-3rd phase), Char Ghandhappur of Narayanganj and Tetuljhara of Savar to meet up the growing demand of the expanding Dhaka City, she said.

Once the projects are completed, the prime minister said, dependence on groundwater would reduce by 80 percent making the Dhaka City more safe and sustainable on the point of environmental view. Now 72 percent of water supplied by WASA comes from natural underground reservoirs.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has already completed water supply master plan and sewerage master plan for Dhaka and drainage master plan would be completed very shortly.

Urging people to maintain austerity in using water, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said as an autonomous commercial and service providing entity the WASA should be a viable organization. "People must be aware about the wastage of water and WASA officials and employees should be more careful to minimize the system loss," she said.

Pointing out her government's stride to make the rivers around Dhaka City including Buriganga free from pollution, the Prime Minister said environment of the capital would be more better if pollution of the rivers could be checked.

In this regard she said more drives would be given to lift the sludge of the Buriganga River and stop draining of industrial wastes into the rivers.

Later the Prime Minister laid the foundation of the Padma (Jashaldia) Water Treatment Plant (phase-1) applying a mobile apps at Munsiganj end from Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

She also talked to the local leaders and officials of the Munsiganj district administration through a video conference.