Statement of success of the development activities implemented by the Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Bangladesh since the present “Grand Alliance” government has taken the charge.

1. Introduction

The Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) is a department under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. This department is responsible for safe water supply and sanitation (sewage and solid waste disposal) management throughout rural and urban (city corporation, pourashava, upazila sadar and growth centre) areas of the country, except the areas under WASAs. The department has set top priority to implement the two goals declared in the present government’s election manifesto-

               I.      Safe drinking water for all by 2011

             II.      100% sanitation coverage by 2013

2. Activities already implemented by DPHE

The following activities have been implemented through different projects after the present government has taken its charge:

During regime of present government, water coverage has increased from 82% to 88% and water source is ensured for every 95 no. of people in rural areas. In urban areas, 30% of the areas are under water coverage through piped water supply system and rests are covered by point sources. As a result, overall water coverage in urban areas has increased to 99.4%.

§         1.31 Lakh nos. different types of water sources have been installed in rural areas, including in arsenic affected areas.

§         Water supply system has been expanded and developed, including preparation to face emergency situation in 24 pourashavas which are affected by the flood of the year 2007.

§         9000 nos. water sources have been installed in “Sidr” and “Aila” affected areas.

§         Piped water supply system has been installed in 21 villages with the sponsorship of private organizations.

§         Piped water Supply system expansion and development as well as regeneration of choked up tube wells have been done in 20 pourasavas.

§         Modern water supply system with impounding reservoir and water treatment plant has been installed in Mongla pourashava of Khulna saline zone.

§         Modern water supply system has been installed, including construction of surface water treatment plant, in Rajshahi city of low water table zone.  

§         The inhabitants of Char areas have been brought under the water supply and sanitation system.

§         Qualitative test of 1,30,000 nos. water sources has been conducted in last 3 years.

§         Qualitative test of existing drinking water sources of 61,000 primary schools has been conducted on demand of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

§         Households using sanitary latrine has been increased to 91% as a result of integrated effort of Government, Non Government organizations and Local Government Institutions.

§         4, 10,000 low cost sanitary latrine and 489 nos. community latrine has been set up in this regime.

§         Every year, the15th October is celebrated as “World Hand Washing Day” in every educational institution by DPHE with the assistance of UNICEF and other development partners.

3. Activities being implemented by DPHE

    

Following activities are being implemented since the present government has taken its charge:

§         2, 00,000 different types of water sources are being installed in rural areas including arsenic affected areas.

§         Extension and development of water supply system is being implemented in Sylhet and Barisal City Corporations.

§         Extension and development of water supply system is being implemented in 53 district towns to bring 75% of their inhabitants under piped water supply system.

§         Feasibility study and preparation of investment project for 155 pourashavas is in progress.

§         Implementation of 175 nos. piped water supply schemes in rural areas is in progress.

§         Extension and development of water supply system is being implemented in Kotalipara and Tungipara of Gopalganj District, Shujanagar, Bhangura and Chatmohor Pourashavas of Pabna District and Chowmuhoni Pourashava of Noakhali District.

§         Increasing the sanitary latrine user household to 100% within 2013 by setting up 65 lac sanitary latrines in rural and urban areas. This is being implemented through the integrated effort of Government and Non Government organizations.

4.  Future activities to be implemented by DPHE

    

Following plans have been submitted to be implemented by DPHE in future:

§         Extension and development of water supply system in 38 upazila and growth centers.

§         Establishment of water supply system through pipe line in 45 upazila and growth centres.

§         Extension and development of water supply system in Tongi pourashava and Cox’s Bazar city.

§         Development of water supply system through point sources, for interim period, in 178 pourashavas, where no piped water supply exist.

§         Set up of 12,729 nos. different types of water sources in “Aila” affected 5 upazilas of Khulna and Shatkhira districts.

§         Installation of 49,440 nos. water sources in areas where shallow tube well is successful.

§         Installation of 3,473 nos. pond sand filters, 21,106 nos. No-6 deep tube wells, 3,849 nos. ring wells/ dug wells, 30,854 nos. tara deep tube wells, 167 nos. SST/ VSST, 268 nos. arsenic- iron removal plants, 142 nos. rain water harvesting in arsenic affected areas.

§         Set up of 100 nos. community based de-salination plants; procurement and set up of 15 nos. mobile de-dalination plant.

§         Establishment of 65,00,000 sanitary latrines in rural and urban areas with integrated effort of Government and Non- Government organizations.

§         Encourage people in rural and urban areas to set up and use sanitary latrines.

§         Development of suitable sanitation system in chars, haors, Chittagong hill tracts and other problematic areas.