Written by The Banking Post
Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (DWASA) is set to sign contracts today with two Chinese firms for key components of the long-delayed Saidabad Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Phase III project.
China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited (CPPECL) will build the primary distribution network under a €62 million deal, while Hubei Industrial Construction Company (HICC) will handle the secondary network for €3.2 million.
Earlier, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) won a €292 million contract for constructing the raw water pumping station, treatment plant, and distribution pipeline. Together, the three contracts pave the way for full-scale work on the Tk160.15 billion project, first approved in 2013.
Once completed within 42 months, the project will boost Dhaka’s water supply by 450 million litres per day—enough to meet 40% of the city’s demand.
However, experts warn river pollution remains a critical challenge. With Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya, and Dhaleshwari already untreatable, the Meghna River is the last viable source. They stressed urgent government action to stop industrial and municipal waste dumping.
The French development agency AFD and Germany’s KfW are financing parts of the project. AFD officials said the initiative will not only expand supply but also include a sludge treatment facility for the entire plant.
