Massive withdrawal of groundwater may cause earthquake in capital

Prime minister tells parliament
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina forewarned that earthquake could strike the capital city as the groundwater table here is going down 2-3 meters gradually due to massive withdrawal of the water.
In reply to a question from Nasimul Alam Chowdhury (Comilla-8), she said the subsiding of the underground water level is causing serious damage to geological environment and its balance. Prime Minister’s questions and answers were tabled to facilitate discussion on the President’s New Year address to the parliament. “If water level continues to go down, there is apprehension about natural calamity like earthquake,” she said, apparently referring to the presentiment coming from experts.
She said the environmental damage inside the ground has come to government’s notice and it has taken various plans to increase surface water and its use.
She also told the lawmakers that her government is committed to ensuring pure drinking water for all by the year 2011. Hasina informed the House about the projects taken up jointly by the government and donor agencies to remove crisis of drinking water in the country.
She said implementation of Syedabad Water Treatment Construction Project (Phase-2) with the capacity of 22.50 crore litres of water a day in collaboration with Danida has been started. Its construction is expected to be completed by June 2012. Another major plant under Pagla/Keraniganj Water Treatment Construction Project involving Tk 2200 crore and having a capacity of 45 crore litres of water daily will be set up by June 2014, which will purify Padma river waters, the PM said. Besides, a survey is underway to set up a water plant in the city’s Khilkhet area with a target of supplying 50 crore litres of water to the city dwellers a day.
Hasina said the government has also taken steps to bring navigability in the rivers surrounding the capital by dredging and cleaning up the riverbeds.
Another scheme called Buriganga River Restoration Project is under process of approval.
About water crisis in the port city of Chittagong, she said the government has taken Mohra Water Supply Project and Madunaghat Water Supply Project and Karnaphuli Water supply project to solve the problem.
Besides, several projects to use surface water have been taken up and, in this regard, Halda and Karnaphuli rivers are being considered as sources of water, Hasina said.
“If these projects can be implemented fully, crisis of pure drinking water in the divisional headquarters will be gone gradually,” she hoped.

Courtesy of UNB via The Daily Star