PICMaC-DPHEProject for Improvement of Comprehensive Management Capacity of DPHE on Water Supply

Issue No. 1 April - October, 2015

PICMaCDPHEPICMaCDPHE NewsletterNewsletter

I am delighted that the Project for Improvement of Comprehensive Management Capacity of DPHE on Water Supply (PICMaC-DPHE) is going to publish the newsletter. A vivid picture can be seen from this publication. This edition highlights different activities at the beginning of the project. At present, DPHE has a number of projects in which various types of activities have been undertaken regarding water supply and sanitation.This project is a technical assistance project funded by JICA. The main purpose of this project is to improve the management capacity of DPHE on water supply system.

I hope this publication will meet the requirements of those who want to know about the activities of PICMaC-DPHE.

Khaleda AhsanChief Engineer, DPHE

It is my pleasure that PICMaC-DPHE is going to circulate the Newsletter for the first time. Ms. Khaleda Ahsan, Chief Engineer, DPHE has shown her keen interest and encouraged us for publishing this News Letter on a regular basis. Our JICA Expert Team has guided us by providing write ups, photos, information and suggestions.

I am grateful to all my colleagues for their continuous support to get this publication done. I am sincerely thankful to all of the project staffs of PICMaC-DPHE for their hard work and valuable contribution for this publication. We hope that we shall continue this publication in future as well.

Editorial

Purpose of the Project

The purpose of the project is “enhancement of DPHE’s comprehensive management capacity for Rural and Pourashava Water Supply Service” through capacity development for each activity of project implementation on water supply. The following outputs were set in order to achieve the project purpose.

Output 1: “Comprehensive Technical Guideline on Water Supply for Rural and Pourashava” is prepared.

Project OutlineKick Off MeetingJoint Coordination Committee MeetingProject Opening SeminarBaseline Assessment ActivityTechnical Working Group

Message from the Chief Engineer

Project Outline

Inside the Newsletter

Project Opening Seminar of PICMaC-DPHE

The Kick Off meeting of PICMaC-DPHE was held on 23rd April, 2015 at the conference room of DPHE Bhaban.Officials of DPHE, Project personnel, members of JICA Expert Team and Representative, JICA were present in the meeting. Chief Engineer, DPHE Ms. Khaleda Ahsan chaired the meeting.

The Project Team consisting of counterparts of DPHE and JICA experts presented the contents of the project and a series of discussion were made.

After a detail discussion, the following decisions were made:

All the existing reports will be reviewed and utilized to assess the current level of capacity of DPHE.

The needs assessment of capacity will be done through the baseline workshop.

Three respective areas will be enhanced through the trainings in the project; 1) monitoring technique of operation and water quality, 2) technique in developing water sources in selecting feasible technological options, and

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PICMaC-DPHE

Background of the Project

Drinking water resources was shifted from surface water to groundwater since 1970s, in order to prevent waterborne diseases. Although the water supply coverage has dramatically increased, arsenic contamination in groundwater put additional threat to water supplies it is estimated that around 22 million people (19 million people is caused by arsenic contamination and 3.1 million people is by other factors) is still out of access to safe drinking water (JICA, 2010).

The Government of Bangladesh set a national target through which water supply coverage would reach 100% by 2015. However, the main challenges remain in decreasing water resources due to increase of water demand and water resources allocation, and lack of capacity for water supply in technically difficult areas caused by 1) Gravel problem areas, 2) Arsenic contaminated areas, 3) Saline problem areas, 4) No aquifer areas and 5) Low groundwater table areas. (The Map of technical difficult areas is shown in the last page).

According to the above background, the Government of Bangladesh made a request of technical cooperation project to the Government of Japan for enhancement of DPHE’s comprehensive management capacity for Rural and Pourashava Water Supply Service. The Project is being implemented based on the Record of Discussion signed in October 2014.

Project Schedule and ActivitiesThe Project has been implemented from January 2015 and will continue to December 2018. Project consisting of three phases as below.

The information system on rural and Pourashava water supply is strengthened.

The mid and long-term Action Plan aligned with the Sector Development Plan is prepared.

Improve technical capability in developing water source and in selecting feasible technology options.

Establish monitoring framework for operational status and water quality of the installed water supply facilities.

Output 2:

Output 3:

Output 4:

Output 5:

Figure 1: Phases of the Project

Figure 2: Kick off meeting of PICMaC-DPHE

Kick Off Meeting

a)

b)

c)

Establishment

different

training

Finalization,“Comprehensive,

Assessment

database

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The JCC approved the work plan presented by JICA Expert Team. Discussion held on database improvement, utilization of community experience of WATSAN committee in development of monitoring system, involvement of LGIs to sustain operation and maintenance of existing water supply facility.

JICA emphasized the importance of DPHE’s ownership of the project and fulltime participation of the counterpart personnel to the project activity in order to achieve the expected project outputs.

The first Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting of PICMaC-DPHE was held on 21st May, 2015 at the conference room of DPHE Bhaban. Members of the committee were present in the meeting. The meeting was presided over by the acting Chief Engineer Mr. Monwar Ali.The main agenda of the meeting was to verify the draft work plan and Project Opening Seminar.

Figure 3: JCC Meeting of PICMaC-DPHE

Joint Coordination Committee Meeting

3) utilization of the comprehensive technical guideline. These areas are critically involved with the field level of DPHE to provide the assistances for LGIs, Trainings will be provided which the DPHE central level staff will receive the ToT, and then the DPHE field level staff and LGI (Unions) will be trained by those trainers.

Both DPHE Central and Field offices will be addressed by the Project, interventions in order to enable them to manage water supply of rural and Pourashava.The pilot areas would be selected through discussion with DPHE.

The existing databases would be linked throught an integrated data management system so that it easily be accessed by users.

Enhancing the capacity of Design Division of DPHE would be considered and necessary step will be taken up.

The contents of guidelines, manuals and training activities should be aligned with SDP.

Capacity of the laboratory will be improved twards the establishment of a monitoring framework through conducting activities for the output five (5).

The JICA Representative mentioned that the activities in Pourashavas are limited to a few. It was, however, insisted that the Project Team will collect the information on Pourashava water supply in baseline assessment, and based on the needs, prepare the milestones to be followed.

The remarks given by Additional Chief Engineer and Chief Engineer of DPHE during the meeting emphasized that capacity improvement of Pourashava water supply should equally be considered as rural areas through the DPHE technical support, and DPHE laboratory should also be involved in the project activities especially for the establishment of the monitoring framework.

PICMaC-DPHE

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

The Project for Improvement of Comprehensive Management Capacity of DPHE on Water Supply (PICMaC-DPHE) started its activities from February 2015. The purpose of this project is to enhance DPHE’s comprehensive management capacity for rural and pourashava water supply service through capacity development for each activity of project implementation of water supply.

This is a technical assistance project supported by JICA. Under this technical assistance project a number of technical guidelines, mid and long term action plan and monitoring framework will be prepared. Besides these, a number of training programs will be organized under the project to enhance the capacity of DPHE personnel.

Project Opening Seminar

Figure 4: Project Opening Seminar of PICMaC-DPHE

Baseline Assessment Workshop in Central DPHE was the last activity for Baseline Assessment Activity for DPHE in the Project, which was held on 7 October, 2015 at DPHE auditorium.Officials of DPHE head quarter, Superintending Engineers of DPHE field

offices attended the program. Results and outcome of the circle level workshops were shared with DPHE officials. It was a half day program. Ms. Khaleda Ahsan, Chief Engineer, DPHE, was present in the program as Chief Guest. Mr. Md. Wali Ullah, Additional Chief Engineer (Planning) chaired the program.

At first the project personnel presented the outcome of the baseline assessments of 9 circles. Then open discussion was held. DPHE officials asked questions and gave their comments and project personnel answered them.

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Baseline Assessment Activity

Figure 5: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Central Level

Figure 6: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Dhaka Circle

PICMaC-DPHEThe project opening seminar was held on June 8, 2015. It was a day long program. Mr. Md. Akram-Al-Hossain, Additional Secretary, Local Government Division was present in the program as Chief Guest. Field level officers of DPHE were the participants of that program.

The opening session was held in the first half. The program started with the recitation from holy Quran. After that Project Director delivered the Welcome Address and a brief out line of the project. After that, Team Leader and Deputy Team Leader of JICA Expert Team explained the activities of the project. After their presentation, Senior Representative JICA and Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan delivered their speech.

Then Chief Engineer, DPHE, Additional Secretary, LGD and Additional Chief Engineer (Works), DPHE, provided their speech. The session ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Roman Kabir, Project Manager, PICMaC-DPHE.

In the second half discussion was held on questionnaires prepared for baseline assessment regarding the current situation of DPHE. Field level officers of DPHE participated in the session. The session was conducted by Mr. Roman Kabir, Project Manager, PICMaC-DPHE. He presented all the contents of the questionnaire and answered the questions from participants.

Figure 7: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Rajshahi Circle

Four (4) very important findings from the discussion were as follows:

Community’s demand, natural and socio-economic condition of the area should be considered for construction of water supply facilities.The system (organization and institution) and procedure should be utilized to carry out DPHE’s required functions.Capacity of DPHE’s O&M support for the water supply facilities need to be improved.Regular monitoring of water quality and water supply facilities should be systematically carried out.

1)

2)

3)

4)

05

The Questionnaire was prepared by project team members by the end of May, 2015 and distributed to all the DPHE field offices after the Project Opening Seminar.

The result of analysis of the Questionnaire was reflected to the content of the following Baseline Assessment Workshops in nine (9) Circles.

Figure 9: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Rangpur Circle

Figure 10: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Barisal Circle

Figure 11: Baseline Assessment Workshop at ChittagongHill Track Circle

Figure 8: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Sylhet Circle

In the Baseline Assessment Activity, the Questionnaire survey and the Baseline Assessment Workshops had two (2) main activities.

PICMaC-DPHE

The Baseline Assessment Workshops in nine (9) Circles were held for about two (2) weeks from 18 August to 6 September involving two teams from the Project.

Participant ratio to the Workshops was very high as well as questionnaire return ratio. Very important findings were acquired through the Baseline Assessment Workshop as stated above.

Figure 12: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Khulna Circle

Figure 13: Baseline Assessment Workshop at Chittagong Circle

Some activities can be added based on the result of workshop. Capacity of DPHE will be improved by the modified project activities that will enable DPHE to be the best water supply organization in Bangladesh.

One of the outputs of PICMaC-DPHE project is to prepare a comprehensive technical guideline for rural and pourashava water supply. To assist the PICMaC-DPHE team in respect of preparation of Comprehensive Technical Guideline and to support to other technical issues a Technical Working Group is formed.

Assist JICA Expert Team of PICMaC-DPHE in preparation of the Comprehensive Technical Guideline of Water Supply as per requirement of DPHE. This will include finalizing the contents of the guidelines, checking necessary information included in respect of administrative, technical, O&M, monitoring, budget etc.

Assist JICA Expert Team of PICMaC-DPHE in respect of selecting the pilot areas for implementing comprehensive technical guideline.

Assist JICA Expert Team of PICMaC-DPHE to select areas for monitoring activities.

Assist JICA Expert Team of PICMaC-DPHE in other technical issues as required.

The first meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) was held on 19th October, 2015 at the meeting room of PICMaC-DPHE.In the meeting, following decisions were made:

Both Chandpur and Faridpur were identified as pilot area for Arsenic problem. Satkhira and Khulna were selected for Saline problem area. Both Manikganj and Chuadanga were selected for Gravel problem area. Both Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar were proposed for no aquifer area. Both Rajshahi and Gazipur were proposed for Low Ground Water Table area.

TWG members accepted the proposal on integrated database development concepts. However, the meeting stressed the need for clarification of the process to be adopted for integration of database.

TWG members accepted the proposal but they requested to make one brief description on how the districts are categorized and distribute among members, so that they can provide feedback comments and decisions on selecting piloting areas.

It was agreed in the meeting that TWG would provide comments after reviewing necessary documents of “Comprehensive Technical Guideline” by 25.10.2015.

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PICMaC-DPHE

Technical Working Groupa)

b)

c)

d)

The members of the Technical working Group are as follows:

Mr. Sudhir Kumar Ghosh, Superintending Engineer, DPHE, Ground Water Circle, Chairman.

Mr. A.K.M. Ibrahim, Project Director, DPHE, BRWSSP, Member.

Mr. Md. Saifur Rahman, Executive Engineer, DPHE, R&D Division, Member.

Mr. Shishir Kumar Biswas, Executive Engineer, DPHE, Arsenic Management Division, Member.

Mr. Roman Kabir, Project Manager, PICMaC-DPHE, Member Secretary.

The Task of the Working Group will be as follows (but not to be limited):

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Figure14: Open discussion at central level workshop

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PICMaC-DPHE

Figure 15: Work flow of the project

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PICMaC-DPHE

Technically difficult areasCapital

Circle Office

International

Division

District

Circle

: Gravel problem area

: Arsenic contaminated area

: Saline problem area

: No aquifer area

: Low groundwater table area

Figure 16: Technically Di�cult Areas as per existing information of DPHE

Editor: Roman Kabir, Project Manager, PICMaC-DPHEDPHE Bhaban, Kakrail, Dhaka-1000, Tel: +88-02-9358134, Email: romankabir085@gmail.com