Built at Tk 11 crore, water treatment plant lies idle

A water treatment plant built at a cost of around Tk 11 crore in Hatlakshmiganj under Munshiganj municipality has remained inoperative for years due to delays and disagreements over its handover, ...

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Tanjil Hasan Tanjil Hasan The 3,300-square-foot plant is completely shut, with stagnant water emitting a foul smell and algae covering the water.

Photo: Star A water treatment plant built at a cost of around Tk 11 crore in Hatlakshmiganj under Munshiganj municipality has remained inoperative for years due to delays and disagreements over its handover, leaving residents without its intended benefits.

The project was initiated on April 11, 2018, under a water supply scheme for 37 district towns.

Younus & Brothers was awarded the contract at an estimated cost of Tk 10,26,90,237.

Scheduled for completion and handover by May 2019, the project faced repeated delays over land-related complications, concerns about pipe quality and other issues.

After three deadline extensions, construction was completed in July 2023, followed by three months of trial operations beginning in August that year.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found the 3,300-square-foot plant completely shut, with stagnant water emitting a foul smell and algae covering the water and various structures.

Caretaker Anil Barman blamed the situation on the municipality’s failure to formally take over the facility.

The plant was designed to draw water from the adjacent Dhaleshwari river, treat 3,50,000 litres per hour and supply it to municipal residents.

Mohammad Nabil, a Hatlakshmiganj resident, said industrial waste and pollution from establishments along the riverbanks had made the water unfit for use.

Tube wells also failed to provide adequate supplies, he added.

Md Touhidul Islam, chief executive officer of Munshiganj municipality, said then adviser Adilur Rahman and senior officials inspected the plant in January and found construction defects.

“The adviser and the secretary told the chief engineer that the construction work was unsatisfactory.

Plaster had fallen off in some places, the paintwork was defective, the floor was damaged, and algae had grown on the structures.