Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has initiated a plan to bring water from the Bhandaljhuri treatment plant across the Karnaphuli River into the city using the utility duct of the Karnaphuli Tunnel. The project, built during the Awami League government without prior survey, cost nearly Tk 1,994 crore and has a daily production capacity of 60 million liters. However, due to lack of customers, the plant has been operating at only 2.5 million liters per day, leaving 95 percent of its capacity unused.

The Bhandaljhuri project was originally designed to serve residential areas in Boalkhali, Patiya, Anwara, and Karnaphuli, as well as 13 major industrial clients. Most of these clients, except CUFL, did not opt for WASA’s water supply. Under new Managing Director Engineer Selim Mohammad Zane Alam, WASA has sought permission from the Roads, Bridges, and Local Government ministries to install pipelines through the tunnel duct.

If approved, the plan could supply an additional 30 million liters of water daily to Patenga, helping meet the area’s 90 million-liter demand and significantly easing water shortages within a year.