AMIDST scorching summer hit, life is becoming virtually unbearable in many regions, including Dhaka and Chittagong cities due to acute scarcity of gas and water accompanied by frequent load shedding over the last few days. The government is spending huge budgetary resources but scarcity of the basic utilities at peak summer season is scandalous. Reports carried by several national dailies said that the scarcity of water and gas has partially paralyzed the life of many city dwellers poising severe threat of diseases. People are protesting every day at one place or another and the authorities concerned must address the crisis properly without any delay. Right to basic utilities is inherent right of the citizens and the government cannot avoid the responsibility.
In Chittagong, supply scarcity of gas, electricity and water in households and industries is causing suspension of production in factories, in addition to making life unbearable. Businesses fear that power and gas crisis will lead to collapse of heavy and medium industrial installations like steel, re-rolling mills, readymade garment and ceramic factories forcing them to suffer heavy losses. CNG filling stations’ owners said they have been forced to shut down their facilities due to disruption in regular supply and the low pressure of gas. The situation in the residential areas is simply intolerable, as people have to suspend domestic activities almost half of the day. There are areas where water supply has been suspended or running quite limited for a fortnight or even a month. Admitting the crisis, concerned authorities however said the water crisis was so acute because the demand has shot up from two to three times and that they are doing everything to solve the crisis in the summer.
In Dhaka, residents of East Badda in the capital are not getting enough water for the last six months because of work for new pipeline installation. Some residents get water too dirty to drink supplied by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority through old pipeline. Others get it for only few hours a day through the new pipeline. Moreover filthy and foul water is causing severe health hazards and the water supply agency took no measure to solve the crisis despite repeated complaints.
While the government is planning to implement gigantic budget to adorn the life of the citizens better, many urban residents are living without basic amenities at many places. The crisis will be more acute in peak summer to spell inhuman disasters in hospitals, industries and household. It is advisable that the government should put aside all the rhetorical assurances and admit the crisis as the first priority to enable the citizens to live with the basic supply of utilities in their daily life and run mills and factories without disruption.
