The World Bank has approved a US$149 million credit to Bangladesh to support the improvement of water supply and sanitation services in its capital Dhaka, said a release.

The World Bank's Board of Directors in Washington on Wednesday approved the credit for the Dhaka Water Supply and Sanitation Project, a press release was quoted by private news agency UNB as saying.

The project is designed to improve sustainable delivery of storm water drainage, wastewater and water services by the Dhaka Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), which has the sole responsibility of providing these services in Dhaka.

This will be achieved through rehabilitation, repair and expansion of the city's sewerage network and treatment plants, and installation of storm water pumping stations and rehabilitation of canals to help improve drainage and minimize urban flooding.

The project will also support Dhaka WASA's pilot expansion of water and sanitation services into some of Dhaka's slum areas to help increase services to the urban poor, and finance training to improve hygiene practice in the slums.

Dhaka is one of the fastest growing mega-cities in the world, and its population is expected to reach nearly 22 million by 2025, up from 12 million now, UNB said.

This population growth is placing serious strains on the city's ability to provide basic water, sanitation and drainage services to its citizens.

Delivery of water and sanitation services throughout Dhaka is inadequate and uneven, and is particularly poor in slum areas.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2008)