The proposal to increase the water price of Chittagong Wasa is going to the ministry soon. Chittagong WASA wants to increase the price of water for residents by 30 percent and for non-residents by 50 percent. At present, one unit (1000 liters) of water in a house has to be calculated at 18 rupees. The new offer is 23 taka 40 paisa. Similarly, the non-resident (commercial) has to pay the current rate of Rs. 37 per unit of water. In the new proposal, 55 rupees become 50 paise.
In the 79th board meeting of Chittagong WASA held on March 14, a proposal was made to increase the price of water. A 61.34 percent price hike was proposed by WASA at the same time. In that meeting, a committee of seven members was formed from the board regarding the increase in the price of water. Wasar board member Siddharth Barua was convened. The committee submitted its report in the 80th meeting of the board on April 16. It also recommends a 30 percent increase in residential water rates and a 50 percent increase in non-residential rates.
In this context, Chief Engineer of Chittagong Wasa Maqsud Alam told Bangla Tribune, ‘Soon the proposal to increase the price of Wasa water will be sent to the ministry. It proposes a 30 percent increase in prices for residents and 50 percent for non-residents. The signature of the board members is pending on this proposal. After this, the price increase proposal will first be sent to the Ministry of Local Government. After the approval of the ministry, this proposal will go to the Prime Minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the water supply of Chittagong Wasa has reduced due to intense heat. On top of that, severe salinity has appeared in the water. As a result, WASA customers are suffering. Meanwhile, customers are unwilling to accept the price increase proposal.
Ahmed Musa, a resident of Kalpalok area under Baklia police station of the city, said, ‘Even after all these years of establishment, Chittagong WASA could not ensure water supply to many areas of the city including Baklia. Despite taking up so many projects, this organization could not ensure water supply in the city itself. It is the failure of WASA officials.’
Jamal Uddin Hawladar, a resident of Chawkbazar area of the city, said, ‘Wasa water is unfit for consumption if it is not consumed directly. The institution cannot play any role in ensuring the quality of water. The institution is mired in irregularities and corruption. The water system loss in this institution is more than 30 percent. There is no reason for so much water system loss. Trade is going on with these waters in the name of system loss.
WASA Chief Engineer Maqsood Alam said, “Due to salinity, the water supply of WASA has decreased slightly. At present 42 to 44 crore liters of water is being supplied daily. But the demand is like 55 crore litres. The shortage is being supplied by rationing water.’
Currently there are 88 thousand 771 water connections in Chittagong Wasa. Out of this there are 82 thousand 642 residential and 6 thousand 129 non-residential connections. In other words, 91 percent of the water used in the connection is residential and 9 percent of the water used is non-residential.
Last on September 1, 2022, the water price of Chittagong Wasa was fixed at the rate of Tk 18 for residents and Tk 37 for non-residents. Currently, the selling price of every thousand liters of water (residential-non-residential) is Tk 19.71.
According to Wasa sources, in the 79th board meeting of Chittagong Wasa, the issue of increasing the price of water was highlighted and it was said that according to the cost statement of Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plant, Phase-2, located in Rangunia, there is a continuous increase in the incidental expenses including electricity, fuel oil, salaries and interest of various development projects under the jurisdiction of Chittagong Wasa. As a result, the production cost per thousand liters of water is 31.80 taka. It shows that there is a deficit of 12.9 taka per thousand liters of water. It is proposed to increase the price of water to meet this shortfall.
Apart from this, the total amount of loan including interest under various development projects under Chittagong WASA is Tk 3 thousand 558 crore 39 lakh 79 thousand 203 taka. WASA will have to repay these loans from the next financial year.
Engineer AKM Fazlullah, managing director of Chittagong WASA said, ‘Chittagong WASA can increase the price up to 5 percent every year. This time it has been proposed to increase the price to meet the deficit. The proposal will be sent to the ministry soon.’
