Rangamati, Nov 30 (V7N) – A major water supply project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a cost of Tk 334 crore, is progressing rapidly in Rangamati to address a clean water shortage that has persisted for over two decades. Locals anticipate the project will bring significant improvements to their daily lives, overcoming the challenges posed by hilly terrain and infrastructural limitations.

According to the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), the project, titled “Integrated and Sustainable Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation in Hill Tracts,” involves constructing a 25 million liters per day capacity modern water treatment plant in Rangamati municipality, adhering to international standards.

As part of the project, an 8,300-meter transmission line and nearly 200 kilometers of distribution lines are being laid across the town. Currently, only 30 percent of the population has access to safe water. Once complete, the project will provide 100 percent coverage for all municipal residents. Water from Kaptai Lake has already begun flowing to the municipal area. Authorities say the system is designed to meet the growing population’s demand through 2050.

For remote areas outside the municipality, 13 production tube wells and separate pipeline networks are being established. In Rangamati’s 10 upazilas and 50 unions, 1,800 water sources and 180 community-based piped water schemes have been implemented, serving 8–10 families per scheme.

The DPHE also reported that 13 rural piped water supply schemes are under construction in remote hilly areas, including Sajek. A 100 cubic meters per hour water treatment plant is being built in Sajek’s tourist area, along with 6 kilometers of transmission lines and 12 kilometers of distribution lines, which will provide sustainable water access to resorts, local villages, and nearby households for the first time.

In Kaptai upazila’s BGB camp and Machalong Bazar in Baghaichhari’s Sajek police station area, construction of above-ground water treatment facilities is ongoing. Additionally, ten groundwater packages are under development, with five still awaiting tender approval. These rural schemes will include production tube wells, overhead tanks, and piped water networks, providing at least 200 families per scheme with safe water.

Public health infrastructure improvements have also been implemented, including 10 public toilets and advanced waste management preparation in Sajek. The PEDP-4 project has installed 428 WASH blocks and 395 deep tube wells in remote schools, ensuring sanitation and safe water access for hill children.

Executive Engineer Parag Barua of Rangamati DPHE said the project has advanced significantly toward providing modern, sustainable water systems. He added that in Sajek and other hilly areas, 48 Gravity Flow System (GFS) units are supplying water from spring sources to remote upazilas, reducing reliance on groundwater, mitigating disaster-related shortages, and improving public health. The initiative is expected to boost tourism, business, and overall quality of life.

Local residents believe that the implementation of this Tk 334 crore integrated project will finally resolve Rangamati’s longstanding clean water crisis, transforming the region’s access to safe drinking water.

END/AMR/SMA/