KHULNA, May 26: With an aim to remove water-logging problem and to modernise Khulna city, the Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (KWASA) has taken up a project to set up 320-kilometre long sewerage line and two water treatment plants.
After 45 years of independence, KWASA is going to implement the project with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) involving Tk 497 crore.
Apart from removing the water-logging, the scheme is also targeted to ensure a healthy society free from pollution and industrial garbage.
According to KWASA sources, the authority has already completed pre-feasibility survey and waste water management affairs master plan. Appointment of consultant and formulation work of design for the project would start on November next.
All kinds of garbage are now dumped on open places, while faecal waste leaks out from septic tanks and flows into river through drains and canals. A total of 80 per cent drains in the city are open which are causing mass health hazard, the sources said.
Executive Engineer of KWASA Rezaul Islam hoped that a massive change would take place in the city after the implementation of the project.
"A team of ADB visited here on October last year and a master plan has been submitted to the authority after completing the pre-feasibility survey by IPI Global and BITS consulting farms," the engineer said adding that the KWASA is working for implementing the master plan considering the population of Khulna city by 2035.
The sewerage line will be set up into three phases as per the master plan. The first phase will begin by this year and continue for next 20 years, he added.
As per the plan, the waste water will be flown to the treatment plants through pipeline and after treatment, will be supplied to the industrial zones, he added.
He further said that this water will be flown to river if any industry owner does not want to preserve it.
Besides, a total of seven pump stations and two water refineries will be set up in the city for removing the waste water. At least two crore litres of waste water will be purified at the two treatment plants every day.
Managing Director of KWASA Md. Abdullah said that the city will wear a new look after the implementation of the project.
The project is expected to be implemented by 2023, he added.