Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today expressed dissatisfaction over the stalling of two critical surface water projects for a decade and highlighted that over extraction of groundwater is putting the country’s environment at grave risk. “We are putting the environment at grave risk by withdrawing groundwater every day. Despite the fact that there were ways to come out of the crisis, this work has not been accomplished for so many years,” he stated during a meeting.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Adviser convened the meeting with relevant authorities to discuss the progress of the ‘Water Treatment Plant Construction Project Phase-3’ and the ‘Meghna River Protection Master Plan Project’. The gathering took place at the State Guest House Jamuna, attended by senior officials from the Local Government Division, Dhaka WASA, the Planning Commission, the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Department of Environment (DoE).
Principal Coordinator for SDGs Affairs (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed and Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser M Siraz Uddin Miah were also present. During the meeting, Prof Yunus expressed his dissatisfaction with the decade-long stall of the projects, emphasizing their importance for Dhaka’s residents.
The Chief Adviser urged the involved departments and ministries to identify the obstacles that have hindered the projects from the outset. He also discussed strategies for minimizing project costs. Officials noted that approximately 70 percent of Dhaka city’s water supply is sourced from groundwater. The prolonged use of underground water has resulted in the water level dropping by about 2-3 meters annually, posing a significant threat to sustainable development and increasing the risk of environmental disasters.
To mitigate this crisis, the Meghna River Protection Master Plan was initiated to treat water from the Meghna River at the ‘Saidabad Water Treatment Plant Project (Phase-3)’, aiming to establish a sustainable and eco-friendly water supply for city dwellers. Germany, France, Denmark, and the European Union (EU) have been supporting the project, with promises from the EU and other foreign donors to continue their support and increase assistance if needed.
Preparation for the master plan to protect the Meghna River began 10 years ago. Although the plan has been formulated, its implementation has yet to commence. The Chief Adviser noted that the Buriganga and Shitalakshya rivers around Dhaka have become unusable due to high pollution levels, with other rivers facing similar crises. In light of this, protecting the Meghna River has become a government priority.
Prof Yunus stressed the urgency of starting work to save the Meghna River, highlighting the overall concern over its condition. He remarked that freeing Bangladesh’s rivers from pollution should be a government focus, essential for protecting the lives of people in the area. The Chief Adviser directed the concerned ministries and departments to complete the necessary official tasks swiftly to implement the projects within the current fiscal year.
Additionally, discussions were held on enhancing the National River Conservation Commission’s activity and improving coordination between the DoE and the Commission.