Water treatment plant plagued by power crisis

The newly constructed Barisal water treatment plant is now facing an acute power crisis. Even after completion of all the work at the plant, pure drinking water cannot be supplied to the city’s population owing to lack of power supply.
Earlier, the plant faced the serious threat of the Kirtonkhola River erosion. West Zone Power Division Co Ltd (WZPDCO) said it would not supply power to the plant, as the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) is yet to clear huge amounts of dues.
The plant is capable of supplying 1.6 crore gallons of fresh water every day. Its 14 pumps, which have the capacity to operate for a minimum of 75 hours, are lying unused because of the power crisis. Anil Roy, the current in-charge of the water treatment plant, said the plant does not use its generator on a regular basis. All 12 employees of the plant get their salaries without any work, he added.  The plant has remained inoperative at a time when over two lakh people in the city are facing scarcity of drinking water.
Kazi Manirul Islam, executive engineer of the BCC (water), said they are facing some problems or the other from the time of the implementation of the project. “After completing all the work, we're now facing the problem of power supply. We’ve nothing to do in this regard,” he added.
Md Amzad Hosen, executive engineer of Barisal Power Development Board, said the BCC must clear its dues worth Tk. 12.77 crore. Every month electricity bill amounting to Tk. 25 lakh is being added to the BCC’s previous dues. “If we provide power to the water treatment plant, new power tariff will be added to the current dues. We're told by the higher authorities that power will be supplied to the plant only after the BCC clears all previous dues,” he added.
Rangeet Kumar, chief executive officer of the BCC, said the WZPDCO has refused to provide power to the plant despite being requested by them. “We’ll soon take appropriate steps in this regard,” he added.
When asked about the serious water crisis faced by the city dwellers for the last couple of weeks. Md. Motaleb, superintendent engineer of the BCC, said the level of underground water-table here dropped heavily due to continuous hot temperature.
Admitting the fact, Kazi Manirul Islam said the BCC has 29 pump houses to supply water to five lakh people. “We face a demand for 4.5 crore litres of water every day, against which we supply a maximum of 2.5 crore litres. Also, we supply a minimum of 50,000 gallons of water through the water tank. We’ve only one water tank to supply emergency water,” he added.
Sources at the Water supply department of the BCC said more than half a million dwellers across the 45sq km area of the city now require 1.60 crore gallons of water per day, while the BCC could supply only a maximum of 40-45 lakh gallons.
In 2007, the public health engineering department planned to construct two surface water treatment plants—each with the capacity of refining 40 lakh gallons of water from the Kirtankhola river—to address the city’s water supply crisis. The foundation stone for the plant was laid on February 12, 2012.

Water treatment plant plagued by power crisis

The newly constructed Barisal water treatment plant is now facing an acute power crisis. Even after completion of all the work at the plant, pure drinking water cannot be supplied to the citys population owing to lack of power supply. Earlier, the plant faced the serious threat of the Kirtonkhola River erosion. West Zone Power Division Co Ltd (WZPDCO) said it would not supply power to the plant, as the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) is yet to clear huge amounts of dues. The plant is capable of supplying 1.6 crore gallons of fresh water every day. Its 14 pumps, which have the capacity to operate for a minimum of 75 hours, are lying unused because of the power crisis. Anil Roy, the current in-charge of the water treatment plant, said the plant does not use its generator on a regular basis. All 12 employees of the plant get their salaries without any work, he added. The plant has remained inoperative at a time when over two lakh people in the city are facing scarcity of drinking water. Kazi Manirul Islam, executive engineer of the BCC (water), said they are facing some problems or the other from the time of the implementation of the project. After completing all the work, were now facing the problem of power supply. Weve nothing to do in this regard, he added. Md Amzad Hosen, executive engineer of Barisal Power Development Board, said the BCC must clear its dues worth Tk. 12.77 crore. Every month electricity bill amounting to Tk. 25 lakh is being added to the BCCs previous dues. If we provide power to the water treatment plant, new power tariff will be added to the current dues. Were told by the higher authorities that power will be supplied to the plant only after the BCC clears all previous dues, he added. Rangeet Kumar, chief executive officer of the BCC, said the WZPDCO has refused to provide power to the plant despite being requested by them. Well soon take appropriate steps in this regard, he added. When asked about the serious water crisis faced by the city dwellers for the last couple of weeks. Md. Motaleb, superintendent engineer of the BCC, said the level of underground water-table here dropped heavily due to continuous hot temperature. Admitting the fact, Kazi Manirul Islam said the BCC has 29 pump houses to supply water to five lakh people. We face a demand for 4.5 crore litres of water every day, against which we supply a maximum of 2.5 crore litres. Also, we supply a minimum of 50,000 gallons of water through the water tank. Weve only one water tank to supply emergency water, he added. Sources at the Water supply department of the BCC said more than half a million dwellers across the 45sq km area of the city now require 1.60 crore gallons of water per day, while the BCC could supply only a maximum of 40-45 lakh gallons. In 2007, the public health engineering department planned to construct two surface water treatment plantseach with the capacity of refining 40 lakh gallons of water from the Kirtankhola riverto address the citys water supply crisis. The foundation stone for the plant was laid on February 12, 2012.