Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said effective and modern water management is very important for ensuring public health and protecting the environment in urban areas.
To this end, he asked the concerned authorities to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, accountability and efficiency to ensure the highest standard of services.
Mirza Fakhrul, also BNP secretary general, made the remarks while visiting the under-construction Gandharbapur Water Treatment Plant at Rupganj in Narayanganj to ensure safe and sustainable water supply for the capital.
Emphasizing increased use of surface water as a sustainable solution to the long-standing water crisis in the capital, he said dependence on groundwater should be reduced and the use of surface water increased to ensure the best utilization of the country's water resources.
"This will help maintain environmental balance and make it easier to conserve water resources for future generations," he said.
During the visit to the plant being constructed under the Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project implemented by Dhaka WASA, the minister reviewed the overall progress of the project and exchanged views with the officials and employees concerned.
He directed the authorities to complete the remaining works of the project within the next one year.
An exchange of views meeting held after the visit, where the minister was informed about the current progress of the project, future work plans and various initiatives taken to improve service quality.
Local government division secretary, managing director of Dhaka WASA and senior officials of the Gandharbapur Water Treatment Plant were present at the meeting.
The first phase of the Gandharbapur Water Treatment Plant will supply 50 crore liters of water daily to the capital, while the second phase will also supply the same amount of water every day.