The Dutch company 'BHK' showed keen interest to invest in the sewerage project for Chittagong Wasa in 1982, sources said.

'BHK' even prepared a feasibility study and the Chittagong Wasa also responded positively to the project and submitted a proposal in this regard to the ministry concerned but received no response.

Since then no suitable donor has come up in this regard, sources said.

The Wasa in fact hasn't taken any initiative or project in this connection in the last 20 years, sources said.

On the other hand, supply of water remains static for more than two decades as Wasa's newer projects have long been gathering dust only. As a result, the authority even fails to meet half the daily demand of the city dwellers leaving them in utter sufferings.

In absence of any sewerage, the daily human and household wastes are pouring in the canals and the river Karnaphuli. As a result, the river water is getting polluted everyday.

In 2002, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan at a function organised by the Wasa in Chittagong announced that a project would be taken for sewerage soon. But his announcement has not seen any effect till date.

The city with about 3.6 million people needs 10 crore gallons of water daily. But Wasa supplies only a meager 2.5 crore gallons daily against the demand. For the last few weeks, the supply was even below 2.5 crore gallons.

Tk505 crore Mohara Water Treatment Extension Project was taken during the Awami League government in 1999 to reduce the water crisis with a target of adding two crore gallons of water per day. The project had been shelved due to irregularities, system loss and corruption at Chittagong Wasa, sources said.

Wasa officials said that if implemented the Mohara Project would help reduce the water crisis in the port city to a large extent.

Researcher and journalist Muhammad Idris said the officials who appointed to head the Chittagong Wasa tend to set up deep wells or pipelines for increasing water supply rather than bringing a permanent solution to the crisis.

"For this reason, you see the production of water for the last 21 years is the same. If this is the reality, then the officials at Wasa have accomplished nothing at the expense of people's tax," he said.

Citing a survey conducted last year, he said about half of Wasa subscribers stay awake till late in the night everyday to collect their required water from the supply and go for sleep just prior to dawn.

Wasa officials, however, attributed the present water crisis to the erratic power supply and frequent loadshedding.

"We could meet about 60 per cent of the total daily demand if we get uninterrupted supply of power," said an official seeking anonymity.

Regarding sewerage, he said that Chittagong Wasa was contemplating embarking on such a project but the officials could not give details.