Facts about Char Development & Settlement Project (CDSP-III), Bangladesh

The long term development objective is to improve the economic situation and living conditions of the population in the coastal areas of south-eastern Bangladesh, with special reference to the poorest segments of the population. The project will be working towards this objective by aiming at three specific project purposes: promotion of an institutional environment that sustains CDSP type of interventions; accumulation and dissemination of knowledge on coastal development; directly improving the economic and social situation of people in coastal chars.

Essential elements in the approach of CDSP-III are poverty alleviation and integration. It follows the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) by coordination of activities in several sectors and by taking into account the interests of different groups of water users.

CDSP-III (2005-2009) is to a great extent a phase of consolidation. The actual interventions at field levels are limited, the development of Boyer Char (6600 ha) and the improvement of drainage in the upstream area of the Baggar Dona river. The full range of lessons learned in the previous phases can be applied. The project will still be operational in CDSP-I and CDSP-II areas as well, in particular for land settlement and support to Water Management Organisations. CDSP-III is also engaged with identifying future char development programmes.

Much of the institutional work is geared towards the internalisation of CDSP concepts and working methods into the six implementing agencies. Emphasis in the knowledge development and dissemination component lies on monitoring the impact of project interventions of earlier phases and on linking the project data base with the Integrated Coastal Resources Database, located in the Water Resources Planning Organisation (WARPO).

Through a combination of interventions of the six implementing agencies, the project seeks to provide security to the approximately 9000 households that have settled in Boyer Char. Their physical security is enhanced by the construction of embankments and cyclone shelters and they are economically more secure by their legal title on the land and the improved environment for agricultural development and non-agriculture opportunities.

Water Supply and Sanitation intervention by the Department of Public Health Engineering

a) Deep Tube wells :600 nos.
b) Sanitary Latrine :11000 nos.
c) Public Toilet :20 nos.
d) Pond Sand Filter (PSF) :10 nos.
e) Rainwater Harvesting :20 nos.


In Boyer Char an NGO programme is being implemented by five local NGOs, coordinated by BRAC. The activities under this programme are complementary to those of the government agencies under CDSP-III. The two development efforts do not overlap each other but rather reinforce each others objectives.

The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources and is implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (lead agency), the Ministry of Land, the Local Government Engineering Department, the Department of Public Health Engineering, the Department of Agriculture Extension and the Forest Department. A technical assistance team provides support to all agencies.

A unique feature of CDSP is the active cooperation between the government agencies, and the structured relationship between the government programme and the NGO activities in the same area. The coordinating body at the policy level is the National Steering Committee (NSC), chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, with representatives of the parent Ministries of the implementing agencies, Planning Commission, Implementation an Monitoring Division, BRAC, the Royal Netherlands Embassy (observer) and the technical assistance team (observer) as members. The Project Director is member-secretary. The NSC meets at least twice a year.

At project level the Project Management Committee (PMC) is the central coordinating and management body. It is headed by the Project Director, BWDB. The Project Coordinators of the other five agencies and the project Manager of the BRAC/NGO programme are the members. The leader of the technical assistance team is the secretary. Meetings are held at least once in every three months.
Total costs for the three phases of the CDSP programme amount to approximately taka 2900 Million. THE Government of Bangladesh contributed roughly 20%, while the Government of the Netherlands 80%.

WATER SOURCE STATUS & COVERAGE IN BANGLADESH-MAY'2008

Number of District : 64
Number of Upazila : 477
Projected Rural Population (2008) : 109361756
Running Water Source : 1299193
Chocked Up : 75574
Total Water Source : 1374767
Number of Contaminated (Arsenic affected) Public Tubewell : 157516
Number of safe Public Water Point (Running) : 1141827
Coverage (person per Water Source) : 96

Source: DPHE, Bangladesh

Department of Public Health Engineering

Government of Bangladesh

AT A GLANCE

Introduction

• DPHE is the lead Organization of the WSS sector under the M/O Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives (LG Division).
• DPHE has been working since 1936.
• Its area of jurisdiction covers the whole country except Dhaka, Chittagong & Khulna cities and Narayanganj/Kadamrasul pourashavas where WASAs operate.

Organizational Chart

Chief Engineer : 1 no
Addl. CE (Planning) : 1 no
Addl. CE (Works) : 1 no
Superintending Engineer (territorial) : 7 Nos
Superintending Engineer(HQs) :3 Nos
Executive Engineer(territorial) :64 Nos
Executive Engineer(territorial) :13 Nos
Sub-Divisional Engineer :29 Nos
Sub-Assistant Engineer at Upazila level : 476 Nos

Vision of DPHE

Provide safe Water and Sanitation services for all throughout the country.

• Achieve 100% coverage of safe Water & Sanitation services including their safe use and efficient management.
• Improve environmental sanitation status for desired development and building a healthy nation.
• Support desired development of the country through HRD of stakeholders.
• Meet the emergency needs of WSS during disasters.

Mandate / Mission of DPHE

• Responsible exclusively for provision of safe water supply and sanitation facilities throughout the country (except Dhaka, Chittagong & Khulna cities and Narayanganj & kadamrasul pourashavas where WASAs operate).
• Provide advisory services to GoB in framing policy and action plans for WSS.
• Provide support to the local govt. institutions (LGIs) in the development and O&M of Water supply & Sanitation facilities.
• Provide emergency support to restore safe water supply and sanitation facilities during & post disaster periods.
• Provide support to Pourashavas / LGIs in building capacity in WSS sector.

Mission Background

• DPHE mandate has been updated to materialize needs of water supply and sanitation sector in the light of following documents:
• National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation 1998.
• National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation 2004 and Implementation Plan for Arsenic Mitigation in Bangladesh. PRSP 2005.
• Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
• SACOSAN Declaration 2003.
• National Sanitation Strategy 2005.
• National Water Policy 1999.
• Sector Development Programme 2005Pro-poor strategy for water supply and sanitation sector in Bangladesh 2005

Specific Objectives

• To achieve 100% safe water coverage in Upazila HQs, Growth Centres and Bazars by 2025 with piped supply.
• To achieve 100% safe water coverage in under served and un-served rural areas with point sources by 2015.
• To achieve 100% safe water coverage in City Corporation, District HQs pourashavas and other pourashavas with piped supply by the end of 2025.
• To achieve 100% onsite sanitation coverage in rural and urban areas by 2010.
• To achieve 100% sewerage coverage in city corporation areas and 50% in district HQs pourashavas by 2025.
• To achieve 100% drainage coverage in City Corporation, district HQs pourashavas, growth centres and rural bazars by 2020.
• To achieve 100% solid waste management coverage in City Corporation, district HQs pourashavas, growth centres and rural bazars by 2015.
• To institutionalise water quality monitoring and surveillance system in both urban and rural areas by 2010.
• To build awareness on environmental sanitation and personal hygiene practices.
• To institutionalise capacity building of the sector personnel and MIS for sustainable management of the facilities and resources by 2010.
• To create employment opportunity and encourage public-private partnership in WSS.
• To face natural disaster effectively and efficiently.

Present Situation:

Water Supply Coverage: Rural (June/07)

97 persons per public water point (83%)
But some gaps remain in under served, un-served, poor communities, difficult areas and Low coverage in arsenic affected, low water table and difficult areas).

Water Supply Coverage: Urban (June/07)

Pourashava & City corporation: 315
Piped Supply:100
Under Implementation: 68
Yet to undertake for piped supply:147
Coverage( towns having piped supply):31%

Sanitation (December/07):

• Coverage in rural areas is 86.23 %
• Coverage in Pourashava areas is 88.44 %
• Coverage in City Corporation areas is 84.45 %
• Average country coverage is 86.32 %
• No sewerage system exist in the country except a part of Dhaka city

Arsenic:

• 271 Upazilas identified as Arsenic prone by BGS-DPHE-GSB survey in 2002.
• About 29% tube wells in those 271 Upazials are arsenic contaminated.
• About 29 million people are exposed to arsenic contamination.q
• About 8500 villages have more than 80% arsenic contaminated tube wells.

Problems and Constraints

Water supply:

• Not enough perennial and protected surface water source.
• Surface water sources are highly polluted mainly because of industrial and agricultural pollutants.
• Contaminated surface water is difficult and expensive for treatment.
• Lack of safe aquifer in some parts of the country.
• Contamination of Ground water from arsenic, iron and salinity.
• Lowering of Water Table

Sanitation

• Urban sanitation is in acute condition with very insignificant investment.
• Hard-Core Poor have no land to build a latrine.
• Present technology for pit latrines is not suitable for high water table area.
• Pit latrines are not suitable for densely populated area.
• Densely populated area needs expensive sewer system.
• Low priority on R&D activities on sanitation.q Low Private sector investment.
• Donor assistance to urban sanitation is insignificant.

Others

• Institutional weakness in both public and private sector.
• Pourashavas are yet to be technically and financially capable for WSS management.
• Pourashavas suffer from lack of autonomy.
• Lack of adequate resources both from Govt. & Development Partners.
• Shortage of Human Resources.

How to Achieve Objectives?

a) Policy and Management Aspects

• Approval of recommended “Organizational Setup” of DPHE.
• Strengthen WSS system monitoring, surveillance and co-ordination by DPHE.
• Broaden career building opportunity for WSS Professionals.
• Switch over to the role of “Service Provider and Facilitator” form the exclusive role of “Service Provider”.
• Effective involvement of the community/LGIs in WSS management.
• More involvement of the private sector in the O&M of WSS services.
• Provide adequate autonomy to Paurashavas and City Corporations to run water supply system efficientlyq Develop formal and effective linkage between Paurashava/City Corporation and DPHE
• Upgrade Arsenic Policy and Implementation Plan 2004.
• Update Bangladesh standard for drinking water quality and introduction of water safety plans following WHO guideline 2004.
• Development of disaster management plan for WSS sector following national DMP.

b) Development Aspects

• Development of safe WSS facilities in a sustained manner to improve quality of life.
• Encourage conjunctive use of surface and ground waterq Establishment of HRD centre in DPHEq Establishment of the National WSS Information Centre in DPHE
• Establishment of water quality testing, monitoring and surveillance systems in DPHE and institutionalise Water Safety Plan.
• Adequate resource allocation from GoB in ADP/MTBF and to meet emergency needs.
• Adequate resource mobilization from other sources (ESA/ Fin. Inst. /Private entrepreneurs /operators etc

c) Strengthen R&D activities and identification of appropriate technology

• Aquifer mapping throughout the countryq Technological mapping throughout the country
• Recharging of groundwaterq Identification of surface water sources
• Conjunctive use of surface and groundwaterq Appropriate latrines for flood prone, char and haor area, and for railways and waterways.Conclusions & Recommendations
• Approval of the entire Organogram of DPHE as recommended by the M/O Establishment.
• Filling up the vacant posts of DPHE.q Institutionalize Water safety plan, HRM and Information management in DPHE.
• Preparation of master plan for water supply, drainage, sewerage and waste management (solid & liquid wastes) for all urban centers.
• Identification of area specific technology for water supply and environmental sanitation.
• Mobilize adequate recourses, both from GoB and Development Partners.Develop and strengthen effective cooperation among nation building departments/organizations & stakeholders.

Feasibility study on water supply and sanitation facilities in 148 Pourashava in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is one of the countries with very high population densities. About 50% of the populations live below poverty level in the country. Unemployment situation in the rural areas leads on rush of the people for livelihoods towards urban centres, where they live in sub-standard situation with grossly inadequate service facilities like safe water supply, sanitation, solid waste management and drainage etc. The present water supply coverage in the urban centres is 57%.

The Government of Bangladesh has given importance to water supply and sanitation for protection of environment leading to improved health status and thus this sector has been identified as one of the eight priority agenda in the PRSP. The water supply and sanitation system in newly created Pourashava is not adequate to meet the demand. So it is required to develop the water supply and sanitation system in the Pourashava.

At present total number of Pourashava are 308 out of which 58 are district level, 217 are Upazila level and 33 are growth centre level Pourashava. Till now 93 Pourashavas have been brought under piped water supply system. Work has been going on in 67 new Pourashava and expected to be brought under piped water supply system by 2008. Government has decided to cover the remaining 148 Pourashava phase by phase by 2010. But arsenic contamination in groundwater is a serious problem and hindering the water supply system, which is mainly based on groundwater.

In Bangladesh, the existence of arsenic in ground water was identified in early 1993. But the gravity and extent of the problem was confirmed in mid 1990s. The arsenic in Bangladesh is of geologic origin in ground water. About 95% of the drinking water source is groundwater, drawn mainly from shallow hand pump tube wells. Two random surveys conducted by DPHE with the support of UNICEF & Dfid indicated that the water in about 27% to 29% of hand pump tubewells in the country are arsenic contaminated. About half of the Upazilas are facing arsenic contamination in groundwater. However, the contamination level varies from 1% to over 90%. The recent concluded screening of BAMWSP in 270 Upazilas of the country is showing a contamination level of about 30%.

It is estimated that around 30 million out of 130 million populations are drinking arsenic contaminated water (>50ppb) in absence of alternative water supply options. In this situation before taking new piped water supply project in the Pourashava having no piped water supply system the independent expert Committee formed as per decision of the National Policy on Arsenic Mitigation 2004 implementation Committee decided to undertake a study project for detailed survey and investigation. In this context it is note-worthy to mention that a meeting of the expert committee was held on 16 October 2005 in the Local Govt. Division under the chairmanship of the Secretary. Local Government Division who is the Vice-Chairman of the National Policy implementation Committee for Arsenic Mitigation. According to the decision of the independent Expert Committee the TPP of this project was formulated and approved on 4 November 2007.