REHAB seeks Wasa reforms on water billing issues
Staff Reporter :
The Real Estate & Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) has urged Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) to urgently address what it describes as systemic harassment and irregularities in water billing for under-construction buildings.
A REHAB delegation, led by President Md Wahiduzzaman, met with Wasa Managing Director Engineer Shahjahan Mia at the utility’s Karwan Bazar headquarters on Saturday to discuss mounting grievances faced by real estate developers. Other REHAB representatives included Senior Vice President Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan, Vice President Abdul Latif, and Director Md Ayub Ali were present there.
According to a press release, the developers’ association highlighted five key areas of concern.
These included the absence of a dedicated tariff structure for buildings under construction, imposition of unjustified sewerage charges before occupancy, difficulties in reclassifying water supply categories post-construction, poor-quality or malfunctioning water meters, and allegations of corruption and irregular billing in areas not yet connected to Wasa’s water network.
Developers often complain of being billed at full residential or commercial rates even when buildings are still under construction and using minimal water-resulting in inflated and unjustified charges.
Moreover, the lack of a clear and uniform billing policy has reportedly led to inconsistent practices across zones, leaving room for alleged extortion and administrative bottlenecks.
In response, Wasa MD Shahjahan Mia acknowledged the concerns raised and assured the delegation that REHAB’s demands would be placed on the agenda for the upcoming Wasa board meeting.
He further proposed the formation of a joint task mechanism involving senior Wasa officials and REHAB representatives to ensure better coordination and faster resolution of any future disputes.
Wahiduzzaman expressed hope that proactive dialogue would pave the way for fairer billing practices and improved service delivery for the real estate sector, which plays a vital role in Dhaka’s urban development.