Residents of the Mokki area in Rampura, Dhaka have been passing the last 20 days without waster in this holy month of Ramadan. On Thursday, people in hundreds took to the streets, demanding water supply to the area.
Intolerable traffic congestion was seen in the area following the blockade, where the Rampura TV center area was affected the most.
Residents of the area alleged that they have not been getting water regularly for the last 20 days, and had informed the matter to Water Supply & Sewerage Authority (Wasa) and local representatives several times.
Locals said supply of water from the Dhaka Wasa remained suspended for last 19 days. Dhaka Wasa did not even bother to supply water to residents using water vehicles as alternative.
How people suffered
When this correspondent visited the area on Friday he saw locals moving from one place to another with empty gallons and pitchers to collect water. On Friday noon, except a few houses and mosques that got little a water for one or two hours, most houses did not get even a drop.
As a few residents got the information that some houses were getting water they rushed to those hoses and mosques to collect water, creating a large gathering, while Some people were found collecting water from a toilet tap.
Residents complains
“We’ve not got a single drop of water over the last 15 days, we could not bathe nor even do ablation for prayers in this holy month. We cannot cook or eat due to lack of water after fasting for the whole day. Can anybody imagine the sufferings we are going through questioned Abdul Khaleq, a resident of the Mokki area. “I have been living in this area for the last 40 years, but have not experienced such bad days ever,” he said.
Parveen Akter, another resident who was carrying a pitcher to collect water said, “I am moving from one house to another for water, sometimes I go to the mosque in neighboring area, and at other times I go to the nearby water pump to purchase water.”
“Though we are paying water bills to Wasa we have to spend extra money to purchase water from outside, but for how long will this continue? How long we will bear this pain? she questioned. “We are not too rich to buy water from outside” she said.
Another resident of the area and a teacher of Daffodil University Jakir Joy said that the authority should ensure water supply at this time. But they are taking long.
“It is not possible to buy water every day. On Thursday noon, Dhaka Wasa promised to supply water from their bowsers after we blocked the roads. We finally got water on Thursday evening,” he said.
Although Dhaka Wasa authorities had previously promised to ensure alternative measures to ensure safe water supply, no such measures were seen till 3pm on Friday, he complained.
Ward Commissioner
Ward Commissioner and Awami League Rampura unit President Sheikh Mohammed Golam Rasul said, about 10,000 voters and about 20,000 people live in this area. Almost 90% people are not getting water. The problem started from April 19.
“I have already talked to Wasa officials and they told me that they are working on the water line and assured that the water supply will be restored within three days,” he said.
Expressing anger over the matter, locals said they had informed about the problem to Dhaka Wasa several times, but no remedial action had been taken. If Wasa will not ensure water supply by Sunday we will block roads again, they threatened.
Dhaka Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan said that he has no detailed information about the matter but they are working to ensure water supply.
Suffering is temporary, he said, adding: “Since we are working for the District Meter Area-DMA, from 2012, the problem will be solved soon.”
Expressing his concern about not supplying water and using from their bowsers as an alternative to ensure safe water supply, he said: “Some bowsers were supposed to go this area to supply water, but I have to find out why they did not go, and necessary measures will be taken in this connection.”