The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The World Bank will provide US$165.7 million for implementing 'Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project' taken up to improve stormwater and wastewater drainage and water services in the poorly served capital.

World Bank delegates have completed the detailed planning for implementing the project, taken up by Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (DWASA).

The delegates of the donor agency and DWASA also finalized the implementation arrangements for the project, which has three major components.

Firstly, the project will install selected stormwater pumping stations and rehabilitate selected canals to help improve drainage and minimize urban flooding.

It will also carry out rehabilitation, repair and expansion of priority investments in Dhaka city's sewerage network and treatment plant to improve the urban environment.

"Last but not least, the project will support DWASA's pilot expansion of water and sanitation services into selected Dhaka slums to provide services to the urban poor residing in the slum areas," a WB release said.

Of the total, the World Bank's concessionary arm-the International Development Association (IDA)-- will provide about US$149.0 million. The government will cover the rest. DWASA will be the project-implementing agency.

The proposed project is developed in close coordination with other development partners. It is in line with the Partnership Framework entered into between the Government of Bangladesh and five Development Partners-the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Danish International Development Assistance, the Government of Japan, and the Government of Republic of Korea-on November 10, 2007.

The Partnership Framework guides a coordinated approach to the existing and planned development partner support to the water, sewerage and stormwater-drainage systems in Dhaka and Chittagong as well as harmonizes the agreement with the government on common policy issues and actions.

This proposed project was formerly known as Dhaka Chittagong Urban Flood Mitigation and Sanitation Improvement Project.

The World Bank also intends to support port city Chittagong's water, sewerage and stormwater drainage system in conjunction with development partners active in the sector in Chittagong under a separate upcoming project.