Barisal Correspondent :
The operation of two surface water treatment plants ( SWTP) in Barisal city by using Kirtankhola River water is allegedly being delayed due lack of electricity connection.
Luthfar Rahman, Sub-Assistant Engineer of Public Health Department Barisal Regional Office, said 95 percent construction works of SWTP and transmission lines at Beltala and 70 percent at Rupatali area of the city with total capacity of supplying 3.2 core liters water per day from Kitankhola River have almost completed.
S M Shohidul Alam, Executive Engineer of PHED at Barisal office, said they targeted to start water supply from those SWTPs constructed at the cost of Tk 50 core within June and August 2015 but starting operations of SWTPs may be delayed as electricity supply for trial of the machineries and distribution yet to be connected.
Electricity bill worth Tk. 13 core due against Barisal City Corporation and so without clearing arrear dues, new electricity connection in the name of BCC to SWTPs could not be given, said Hasan Ali Talukdar, superintending engineer of West Zone Power Distribution Company Barisal office.
Manirul Alam Swapan, Executive Engineer, Water Supply Department , Barisal City Corporation, said more than half million dwellers of the city now have a demand for 4.5 core liters of water per day and at present Barisal City Corporation ( BCC) has highest capacity to produce 2.55 core liters and supply 1.5 core liters by extracting ground water.
Now only thirty percent water supply demanded by the dwellers fulfilled by BCC and this capacity would be increased to seventy-five percent with completion of these new SWTPs in the city, Swapan added.
Ahsan Habib Kamal, BCC Mayor, said the most amounts of the arrear electricity bills due during his tenure already cleared. However about 12 core out of 13 core taka electricity bills became arrear during the tenure of previous Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron and BCC also trying to clear those dues.
Electricity supply to SWTP is part of fulfilling a basic civic right and that should not be hampered by any cause in addressing water supply crisis and saving rapidly decreasing ground water level in Barisal city, BCC Mayor said.
The operation of two surface water treatment plants ( SWTP) in Barisal city by using Kirtankhola River water is allegedly being delayed due lack of electricity connection.
Luthfar Rahman, Sub-Assistant Engineer of Public Health Department Barisal Regional Office, said 95 percent construction works of SWTP and transmission lines at Beltala and 70 percent at Rupatali area of the city with total capacity of supplying 3.2 core liters water per day from Kitankhola River have almost completed.
S M Shohidul Alam, Executive Engineer of PHED at Barisal office, said they targeted to start water supply from those SWTPs constructed at the cost of Tk 50 core within June and August 2015 but starting operations of SWTPs may be delayed as electricity supply for trial of the machineries and distribution yet to be connected.
Electricity bill worth Tk. 13 core due against Barisal City Corporation and so without clearing arrear dues, new electricity connection in the name of BCC to SWTPs could not be given, said Hasan Ali Talukdar, superintending engineer of West Zone Power Distribution Company Barisal office.
Manirul Alam Swapan, Executive Engineer, Water Supply Department , Barisal City Corporation, said more than half million dwellers of the city now have a demand for 4.5 core liters of water per day and at present Barisal City Corporation ( BCC) has highest capacity to produce 2.55 core liters and supply 1.5 core liters by extracting ground water.
Now only thirty percent water supply demanded by the dwellers fulfilled by BCC and this capacity would be increased to seventy-five percent with completion of these new SWTPs in the city, Swapan added.
Ahsan Habib Kamal, BCC Mayor, said the most amounts of the arrear electricity bills due during his tenure already cleared. However about 12 core out of 13 core taka electricity bills became arrear during the tenure of previous Mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron and BCC also trying to clear those dues.
Electricity supply to SWTP is part of fulfilling a basic civic right and that should not be hampered by any cause in addressing water supply crisis and saving rapidly decreasing ground water level in Barisal city, BCC Mayor said.
