Between the sweltering summer heat and the long hours of fasting for Ramadan, residents of Mokki area in Rampura, Dhaka are on the verge of launching a protest as there has been no water supply in the area for nearly three weeks.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, several locals in Mokki said they informed the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) as well as the local public representatives about the situation, but in vain.
The Dhaka Wasa authorities did not even take an alternative measure to supply water to the area until the regular supply is restored, the locals complained.
Distressed and outraged, the Mokki locals blockaded the road in Rampura on Thursday, which they withdrew after Dhaka Wasa promised to restore water supply in three days.
They have threatened to go back to the streets and stage demonstration if Dhaka Wasa does not keep its word and restore the regular water supply by tomorrow, several locals said.
Because of the temporary demonstration on Thursday, there was intolerable traffic congestion in the area on Thursday. The area around Rampura TV Centre was affected the most.
This situation puts Dhaka Wasa into further controversy when it is already in a tight place due to complaints of supplying poor quality water.
When contacted, local ward commissioner and Awami League Rampura unit President Sheikh Mohammed Golam Rasul said he had already spoken to Dhaka Wasa about the crisis.
“They have assured me that the crisis will be resolved in three days,” he told Dhaka Tribune o Friday.
He said the problem started on April 19, and of the 20,000 people who live in Mokki area. almost 90% people are not getting water.
People’s sufferings
During a visit to the area on Friday, this reporter saw locals struggling to collect water, walking with empty gallons. Around afternoon, only a handful of houses and the mosques was getting some water for a couple of hours; the rest did not get even a drop all day.
A few of the residents, who heard that the some houses and mosques were getting water, rushed to those buildings to collect water. Some were seen collecting water from the toilets.
“We have not had a single drop of water over the last 15 days. We could not bathe nor even do ablation for prayers during Ramadan,” said Abdul Khaleq, a resident of Mokki. “We cannot cook or eat after iftar, because there is no water.
“I have been living in this area for the last 40 years, but have never experienced anything like this,” he added.
Parveen Akter, another resident who was on her way to collect water in a pitcher when this reporter approached her, said: “I am going door to door asking for water. Sometimes I go to the mosque in neighbouring area, and at other times I go to the nearby water pump to purchase water.
“We are already paying water bills to Wasa, and now we have to spend extra to purchase water. For how long do we have to suffer like this? “We don’t have endless supply of money to keep buying water from outside,” she vented.
Jakir Roy, teacher at Daffodil University, echoed Parveen’s distress.
“It is not possible to buy water every day. On Thursday around 12pm, Dhaka Wasa promised to supply water after we blocked the roads. We finally got water in the [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.
Dhaka Wasa MD: It’s temporary
When contacted, Dhaka Wasa Managing Director Taqsem A Khan said he has no details on the issue, but the agency was working to ensure that regular water supply to Mokki is restored.
“This is a temporary situation,” he said. “Since we are working for the District Meter Area-DMA, from 2012, the problem will be solved soon.”
Asked about an alternative to ensure safe water supply to the area, he said: “Some bowsers were supposed to go to the area to supply water, but I have to find out why they did not go, and necessary measures will be taken in this regard.”