About 20,000 clients of the District Public Health Engineering (DPHE) in Khagrachhari have been suffering due to a water crisis for the last 15 days.
People of the districts now depend on sources of surface water such as waterfalls, canals and ponds, which are unsafe for drinking.
Local people said many people of the area are suffering from water-related diseases for lack of safe drinking water.
During a recent visit to Mollapara area under Khagrachhari Sadar upazila this correspondent found that the people were collecting drinking water from wells and ponds to use on household purpose.
Mohammad Abul Kalam, a resident of Kalabagan of Khagrachhari district town, said: “We are not getting water to meet our daily demands as the DPHE fails to provide us sufficient water.
“We are compelled to fetch water from neighbouring areas, but the authorities concerned do not care to fulfil our daily requirements of water.”
Amena Khartun, a resident of Kadam Tali area of the town, said they had informed the DPHE authorities on the acute water crisis several times, but the authorities did not pay heed to their pleas.
Taslim Uddin, a resident of Monpura, said residents of the area did not get a single jar of water from the DPHE supply.
She urged the authorities concerned to take measures so that they could get rid from such sufferings.
When contacted, Executive Engineer of the DPHE Md Soharab Hossain acknowledged the water crisis, but he denied allegation of negligence.
“You know we need 380KV voltage to start our water lifting motors that are used for lifting underground water but we very often get highest 320KV voltage and that is the reason for not supplying water to consumers,” he added.
Engineer of Power Development Board Md Abdus Salam said: “The Power Development Board needs 33,000KV voltage every day to full fill its clients’ demand but surprising all we get maximum 22,000KV voltage per day.
“We cannot upgrade the voltage if supply remains low, he said, adding that the government needs to take action in this regards, he added.
He said the problem would be solved if they got sufficient power supply from the national grid.