core sector communique

 

 

Improving Water and Sanitation Services in Chittagong

 

Chittagong is the second largest city of Bangladesh with approximately 4 million populations. The city’s continued expansion along with depleted and inadequate infrastructure and facilities for water and sewerage services makes providing reliable water and sanitation services difficult. To improve the sustainability, reliability and affordability of the water, sewerage and stormwater drainage services in Chittagong, the World Bank would fund the proposed Chittagong Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project (CWSISP) of the Government.

Following detailed discussions in late December 2009, the Government is at present completing its review of the proposed project scope. At the same time, CWASA and the Government, along with the World Bank have progressed significantly on the necessary steps towards completing the project preparation. The World Bank would provide around US $ 175 million credit in soft terms for implementation of the project. The project is expected to be approved by June 30, 2010.

Current water production is inadequate to cover the entire population, specially it does not reach those living in the slums. Ground water is increasingly susceptible to high iron content, bacterial content, chloride and salinity. Unplanned hill cutting is resulting in soil erosion during the monsoon season, contributing to blockage of drains. Water-logging has become a major constraint for the development of the city.

The Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (CWASA) is providing water and sanitation services in Chittagong. The proposed CWSISP will support CWASA to improve its services through construction of selected water production, transmission, storage and distribution facilities. CWSISP also aims to expand piped water supply services to slum areas. Through this initiative CWASA will have the necessary support to address long-standing investment gaps in water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Chittagong, and modernize the institution’s operational facilities to strengthen its capacity. The project may also support the Government’s future sector investments and institutional development program.

The project will be implemented in coordination with other development partners. It is in line with the Partnership Framework entered into between the Government of Bangladesh and five Development Partners - the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Danish International Development Assistance, the Government of Japan, and the Government of Republic of Korea. The Partnership Framework provides a coordinated approach to the existing and planned development partner support to the water, sewerage and stormwater drainage systems in Dhaka and Chittagong, while harmonizing with the Government on common policy issues and actions.