Shahe Alam warns WASA officials over project delays
State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam has warned that project directors of Dhaka WASA’s ongoing projects will face removal if they fail to show visible progress within the next two months.
“Officials who fail to deliver will be removed from their positions,” he said at a review meeting on Dhaka WASA’s activities at its headquarters in Karwan Bazar on Thursday, according to a press release.
Shahe Alam criticised delays in project implementation, saying it was unacceptable for projects to remain unfinished for years after approval. He directed the authorities concerned to speed up ongoing work.
He instructed officials to complete the pipeline connection project linking the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant with Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara as soon as possible. He also directed them to prepare a Development Project Proposal (DPP) promptly for establishing a water supply network in Purbachal.
The state minister said the government had decided to amend the law to abolish the boards of all WASA organisations across Bangladesh. Although existing law provides for such boards, the government can form or dissolve them at any time, he said.
A ministry review had found that WASA boards were, in many cases, obstructing public services or interfering unnecessarily in operations, slowing down work, he added.
Expressing dissatisfaction with Dhaka WASA’s performance, Shahe Alam said the city’s daily water demand and supply currently stood at 314 crore litres each. He noted that demand was increasing with the city’s growing population and the rising number of households.
However, he said no significant new initiatives or satisfactory progress in project implementation had been observed over the past seven months.
The state minister warned that the government would ultimately be held responsible if water shortages occurred.
He therefore directed officials to take timely and effective steps to address residents’ problems.
On water sources, Shahe Alam said 74 per cent of Dhaka WASA’s supply came from groundwater, while the remaining 26 per cent came from surface water.
To reduce earthquake-related risks, he called for accelerating surface water-based projects to bring groundwater dependence down to 20–25 per cent.
He also said WASA needed to increase its own revenue while maintaining service standards. Greater financial self-reliance would reduce excessive dependence on foreign loans and help the organisation finance public welfare projects from its own resources.
The state minister directed officials to strengthen automation in meter reading and billing.
He also instructed them to prepare a comprehensive organisational structure and staffing plan based on projected water demand in 2050 and submit it to the ministry for approval.
He ordered the authorities to identify illegal and unauthorised water connections across Dhaka and take strict action against those responsible, including influential individuals and political miscreants involved in such activities.
Shahe Alam also warned collective bargaining agents (CBAs) and employee organisations against using political influence to disrupt public services, saying such interference would not be tolerated.
To prevent water wastage, he called for public awareness campaigns encouraging responsible use, including turning off taps while brushing teeth or shaving.
Reiterating his warning, the state minister said he would return in two months to review progress and expected visible, fundamental changes that would ease water-related problems for Dhaka residents.
Dhaka WASA Managing Director Dr Md Moniruzzaman chaired the meeting. Senior officials, representatives of engineers’ and diploma engineers’ associations, CBA leaders and employees from different levels of the organisation attended.
