A parliamentary panel has recommended splitting Dhaka WASA into two, just like the North and South city corporations, to ensure safe drinking water for the residents.
The Committee on Estimates floated the suggestion during a meeting on Thursday (May 16).
WASA Managing Director Taqsem A Khan was asked to attend the meeting, but he skipped, Abdus Shahid MP, who heads the panel, told Bangla Tribune.
“The Parliament Secretariat had informed WASA about today’s meeting, but they didn’t show up. We have sought their explanation,” he said.
On splitting WASA, Shahid said that Dhaka has grown to a rather large city.
“Even the city corporation has been split into two. The panel believes splitting WASA will ensure delivery of service more efficiently. The ministry has been told to consider the matter,” he said.
Dhaka WASA is responsible for supplying water to the nearly 20 million residents. The daily average demand for water in the city is nearly 2.35 billion litres, of which WASA sources 1.7 billion litres through deep tube-wells while another 600 litre from the Buriganga and Shitalakkhya rivers which goes through its treatment plants.