Move to make Cwasa free from corruption

To that end, Cwasa begans a survey in May to assess the extent of corruption in its water distribution system that deprives it of huge revenue. It sent a set of questionnaire to each subscriber and members of the civil society seeking their opinion on Cwasa, sources said.

The authorities asked them to fill in the questionnaires with information and necessary suggestions and submit them to the managers of 26 branches of Janata Bank here or drop them in designated boxes at the offices of Deputy Commissioner and Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The last date for submitting the questionnaires is June 10, sources said.

At the same time Wasa transferred staffs and employees of its concerned department for their involvement in irregularities during supply of water in vouchers, sources said.

Cwasa Chairman AFM Solaiman Chowdhury at a press conference on May 8 admitted wide range of corruption at different levels in his organisation.

There was no way to change the scenario overnight, he said.

He said that strict measures would be taken to check irregularities after completion of the survey. We would also take action against those who are involved in illegal supply and consumption of water in the name of "system loss," he said.

Solaiman said, when the Cwasa was producing only some 3.6 crore gallons of water to meet merely one-thirds of the demand of over 10 crore gallons, the "system loss" stood at 30 per cent.

He said, according to the official records Wasa has 5,000 non-residential and 38,000 residential connections. But, both the numbers appeared absurd since at least 20,000 non-residential and 1.20 lakh residential connections should have been there for a city of around 37 lakh people, he added.

If it is fact then there will be a shortage of some 80,000 connections depriving two-thirds of city dwellers from Wasa water, he said.

"These huge number of people have alternative sources of water," he said.

Yet as chief of the organisation I will have to know how and from where they were getting water or whether a portion of them has any link with the unaccounted for 30 per cent water -- the socalled system loss," he said.

"With Wasa producing one-thirds of water against the total demand, at least one-thirds of the consumers (38 thousand) should have sufficient water supply," Solaiman said adding "but there is a lot of complains from consumers depicting a different picture."

Though the official records say there are only 176 private bulk lines (connections for industrial units) but it will not be less than 700, he said hinting at huge theft of Wasa water with the connivance of a section officials.

Besides, pilferage of water was also going on through domestic connections with over 1" pipes instead of ¾" ones from supply lines having as much as 18" diameter instead of mere 4", he said.

He said the authorities had taken strict measures to reduce irregularities in supplying water in vouchers.

But,he said, the staffs and employees of the concerned department now supply at best 40 tank lorries of water daily as against the previous quantity of at least 90 such vehicles of water.

They are coming up with a lot of complaints such as tyre punctures and problems in engines of the vehicles, Solaiman apparently irked by the irregularities said.

He said that task forces were still working on it and most of the cases filed on the basis of their report were under trial.

When asked about the execution of punishment awarded to some top officials for corruption, he said that one of them was sent to force retirement, departmental actions were taken against some others and some got stay order from the court on the decision.