Summer is yet to set in, but the city dwellers have started going through severe water crisis following power crisis and rapid depletion of groundwater.
City dwellers allege scarcity of water has hit them early this year.
Apart from the scarcity, the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) is supplying water, which bears pungent smell, garbage and human waste posing serious health hazards for city people.
Residents of Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Shewrapara, Kazipara, Paikpara, Kalabagan, Nayapaltan, Khilgaon, Lalbag, Islambag, Nawabpur, Hajaribag and some parts of Moghbazar and Basabo allege that they have been facing acute water crisis over the past few days.
Similarly, inhabitants at Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Badda, Rampura and Bonoshri are going through severe water shortage, which has much worsened over the recent days.
People in Moghbazar were seen standing in a long queue to collect water being supplied by Wasa, as crisis has turned acute over the last few days.
Pikepara residents in the capital’s Mirpur are also suffering badly. They are queuing up for the same reason since the area has been experiencing sever water crisis for more than half a month.
Rabiul Hasan, a resident in Badda area, said, “We have been facing water crisis over half a month. The supplied water that we are getting in few and far between is also stinky.”
“There is nothing for us but to use this contaminated water for bathing and cooking, which poses risk to public health,” he added.
“When we make complaint to Wasa, concerned officials tell us to buy water purifier. Stinky and dirty water are a great problem to us,” he added.
Shibo Kanti Das, a resident in Islambag area, said water crisis has already reached its peak prior to the start of summer season.
“We are greatly worried about what would happen during the upcoming dry season,” he added.
Trash and excreta are frequently found in the supply water in which stinky smell is very much common, he added.
Asked about water crisis, Taqsem A Khan, Wasa managing Director, said water crisis has hit the city residents a bit early this year due to frequent load shedding and rapid fall in groundwater level.
There is hardly any chance to get rid of this crisis until next year, he added.
Acknowledging Wasa water as stinky, Taqsem said overuse of chlorine for water purification causes such smell.
Since Shitallakya River’s water is extremely contaminated, more chemicals are needed to clean it, he added.
The existing pumps of Wasa fail to cope with such a high-powered job of drawing water due to lack of sufficient generators necessary to produce electricity, the Wasa official said.
Steps had been taken last year to purchase 200 generators, but they are in bureaucratic tangle with the concerned ministry, said Taqsem.
At present 175 crore litres of water against a daily demand of 217 is being supplied by Wasa.
The authority has 570 deep tube wells in the city to supply water in order to mitigate water crisis, but those are not functioning properly due to power shortage, said a Wasa official.
