UNB, Chapainawabganj :
Amid soaring temperatures during the fasting month of Ramadan, residents of Nachol in the northern district have been struggling to get something as basic as potable water. The aggrieved residents claim that water scarcity is an annual occurance in Nachol, but the authorities concerned have so far failed to provide any relief. In fact, repeated complaints to local civic body officials have only fallen on deaf ears, they say.
Every morning, long queues of people can be seen before water tankers in several areas. The lucky ones get water, others are forced to return home empty-handed.
Abdur Rakib, a resident of ward-8, said, “We get water supply once a day and that’s not enough for drinking, cooking, bathing and other purposes. The municipality has hiked taxes but failed to provide water to people.”
“It feels like we are living in a desert amid Ramadan. We have been forced to use water from a nearby pond for cleaning of utensils for the past few days,” Shahnewaj Parvin, a housewife from the area, said.
Local farmers fear that this water scarcity may snowball into a food production crisis. “Without water, we will not be able to water our crops. It’s high time that the authorities woke up from slumber,” said a farmer.
When contacted, Abdul Malek, assistant engineer of Nachol Municipality, was quick to admit the water crisis. “At present, there are some 1,400 consumers for water in Nachol municipality limits and this crisis is severe in wards 8 and 3. At the moment, it is not possible to meet the water needs of all the consumers.
For now, we can meet 40% of the demand.”
Meanwhile, locals complain that over 200 consumers have surrendered the municipal water connection due to the failure of the civic body in meeting their daily needs.
Rafiqul Islam, a local trader, said, “The municipal authorities should have taken special initiative to provide water ahead of Ramadan. I feel ashamed to say I am a resident of a municipal area.”
Assistant engineer Abdul said that the work to set up four more deep tube wells in the municipal area will begin after Eid.
“We have two tube wells. With these new tube wells, it will be possible for us to supply drinking water to 4,200 households in Nachol municipality,” he asserted.
Mayor Abdur Rahman Jhalu, however, feels otherwise. “There is a problem in supplying water due to power outage. Overall, there is no drinking water crisis in the municipality.”
