Environmentalists at a discussion yesterday alleged that government organisations are least bothered about conserving groundwater, rainwater and water reservoirs as they are active on water use from underground sources.
They warned that the government would face adverse consequences in providing drinking water in the future if the trend continued.
Bangladesh Poribesh Banchao Andolon (Poba) organised the discussion at its office in the capital to mark World Water Day, which the United Nations member states will observe today.
Poba secretary Dr Moshiur Rahman said water lifting using deep tube-wells for irrigation purpose is very high in Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions, resulting in underground water scarcity in the areas and river drying up during the summer.
“As the people of the three divisions face water crisis during the summer, the government should provide water to the scarcity-prone areas by conserving rainwater.”
The Poba secretary also said if the government fails to supply water in the areas, the government efforts to ensure food security for all by 2050 will remain unfulfilled.
Poba Executive General Secretary Abdus Sobhan said Bangladesh is in the sixth position in underground water lifting in the world in 2010 as the country lifted 30.21 cubic kilometres of underground water.
He said Bangladesh’s groundwater level is dropping by 1.4% every year for the last 30 years (1980-2010) due to excessive lifting, with Rajshahi division being the worst case.
World Water Day has been observed on March 22 since 1993. The theme for this year’s World Water Day is “Water and Sustainable Development”.
