He said this while presiding over a discussion on the draft policy for meeting the demand for water of the probable population in the city after 20 years. The meeting was held at the Department of Local Government in the city.

The meeting predicted that the population of the city might be 2.5 crore after 20 years.

The draft policy, prepared in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and supervision of the Dhaka Water Supply Authority (Wasa), to face the increasing demand for water in the city after 20 years attaching priority to use surface water.

The policy also recommended efficient sewerage and drainage management side by side with the supply of fresh water in the city. Narayanganj should be included in the plan.

LGD secretary SM Nazrul Islam, chief engineer of LGED Mohammad Shahidul Hasan and chief engineer of Public Health Engineering Department Mohammad Khorshed Alam were present at the discussion. Managing director of Dhaka Wasa Dr Kazi Ali Azam presented the draft policy.

Bhuiyan emphasised the need for developing the water management system in the city and making it more effective and efficient, saying the sources of fresh water and its supply have to be increased through all possible means.

It is urgent to make the sewerage treatment plants and the sources of fresh water in the city, including the Buriganga and Shitalakkhaya rivers, pollution free as part of the mid-term plan, he added.

He also gave importance to undertaking measures to increase the depth of the rivers around the Dhaka city and developing those as the sources of surface water as part of the long-term plan.

Bhuiyan asked the water supply authorities to supply water for the slum dwellers in the city with a minimum service charge.

A proposal for inclusion of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure water supply to the city slums also came up for the discussion.