The underground water level in Barendra region is decreasing day by day. This water is being used for daily needs, starting from agricultural land. In the scorching heat of summer, the groundwater level in these areas goes down. As a result, water is not available except through deep tube wells. Then the locals have to face endless hardships.
With this aim, Rajshahi WASA has taken the initiative to supply water from the Padma River by treating it to save groundwater and meet the drinking water needs of the people of Rajshahi. A treatment plant is being set up in Sarengpur, Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi under the ‘Surface Water Purification Project’ at a cost of 4,622.277 lakh taka. Rajshahi WASA said that 28 percent of the work on the project has already been completed.
This mega project is being implemented under the Rajshahi Water Supply and Drainage Authority (WASA) with the assistance of Hunan Construction Engineering Group Company Limited of China. The feasibility of the rivers Yusubpur of Charghat, Haripur of Paba Upazila and Sarengpur of Godagari Upazila within the upazilas adjacent to the Padma River in Rajshahi district was examined. The Mahananda has emerged as a tributary of the Padma in the Sarengpur area of Godagari Upazila.
The estuary of the two rivers has a depth of 30 feet throughout the year. Before taking up the project, the Institute of Water Modeling (IWM) monitored the water depth of the place for 30 years. After that, Rajshahi WASA decided to set up a treatment plant there. The water in the pipeline will be pumped to a booster plant in Haripur of Paba Upazila and the city residents will receive this purified water through WASA. In addition, through this project, the residents of 30 wards of Katakhali, Nowhata and Godagari will get the facility of safe drinking water. This will reduce the pressure on groundwater.
On site, it was seen that construction work is underway at the project’s water treatment plant and booster pump station point. In addition, work is underway to install the transmission main pipeline from Godagari to Kashiadanga along the highway.
WASA received approval for the ‘Surface-to-surface water treatment plant project’ in June 2018. Work began in July 2023 and the work period is until June 2026. WASA authorities hope that 100% water supply will be ensured in the Rajshahi region by 2035 through this treatment plant.
Project Director and Rajshahi WASA Chief Engineer Parvez Mamud said, ‘The work of our treatment plant is ongoing. Once this work is completed, the city residents will get 200 million liters of iron and bacteria-free, drinkable clean water every day. Our water demand is 130 million liters per day. By 2035, we will be able to fully meet the water needs of the city residents through this project. Engineer SM Obaidul Islam, Acting Director of the Planning and Development Department of Rajshahi University, said, “Water problem will be a big problem for us in the future. Due to natural disasters, drought and heat waves, our groundwater layer is going down day by day. If the water of the Padma is purified and made usable, then the pressure on our groundwater will reduce. Therefore, this project must be implemented quickly and used for public welfare.”