Munshiganj:A new water treatment plant has been established in Munshiganj municipality to address the increasing need for safe and pure drinking water, costing Taka 10.26 crore.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the plant is located in Hatlaxmiganj and is set to treat 350,000 litres of water daily from the Dhaleshwari River, supplying it to residents via pipelines. This project is part of a governmental initiative to set up water treatment plants in 37 district towns nationwide to ensure access to safe drinking water.
Munshiganj municipality spans about 17.74 square kilometres and serves a population of approximately 100,000, or nearly 25,000 families. Despite this, not all wards have access to piped drinking water. The town's daily water demand is around 33 lakh gallons, yet the current supply only meets 23.05 lakh gallons.
Md Humayun Kabir, Executive Engineer of the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) in Munshiganj, stated that the project, initiated in 2018, aims to secure a safe drinking water supply in the municipal area. The plant, constructed at a cost of Taka 10,26,90,237, is expected to alleviate the drinking water shortage. Construction is complete, and trial water supply has commenced following sample testing. The treated water, sourced from the Dhaleshwari River, will be hygienic and free from iron. A deep tubewell is also installed to ensure an uninterrupted supply during the dry season. Some technical work remains before the project can be handed over to the municipal authorities.
Md Anisur Rahman, Assistant Engineer (Water) of Munshiganj Municipality, mentioned that the current 40-kilometre water supply pipeline network is inadequate for the area's population and size. Once the plant is fully operational, an additional 10 kilometres of pipelines will be added, improving the system and benefiting over 500 more families.
Md Ariful Islam, Convener of the District Citizens' Committee, emphasized the importance of providing treated water free from arsenic and iron through pipelines. He called for swift project implementation to ensure a safe water supply across the municipality. Md Mahbubur Rahman, a head teacher and Ganakpara resident, noted that the plant's operation would enhance piped water supply but urged municipal authorities to keep water costs stable.