People of Kishoreganj are facing acute crisis of pure drinking water due to fall in underground water level for a couple of weeks.
Thousands of tube-wells at 13 upazilas of the district have remained inoperative for decrease in water level and sources of surface water resources, including canals, ponds and wells, have almost dried up.
People living in Kishoreganj sadar, Hossainpur, Pakundia, Katiadi, Bhairab, Kuliarchar, Nikli, Bazitpur, Karimganj and Tarail upzilas are the worst sufferers of the situation as nearly 95% tube-wells have remained out of order for a few days.
Besides, water supply in the municipality area is not sufficient due to shortage of pumps.
According to municipality sources, the total requirement of water in Kishoreganj municipality area is about 1,150,000 gallons, while at present only 3, 20,000 gallons are being supplied by the municipality for about 120,000 people.
According to the Public Health Engineering Department, about 20,000 tube-wells have become totally inoperative in 10 upazilas due to sharp fall in the underground water level.
People of many areas are compelled to drink as well as use water of ponds and canals in domestic chores in which is many people have infected with diarrhoea and other water-born diseases.
Md Anwar Hossain, a primary schoolteacher of Khirarchar village, said: “People living in the village are now totally dependent on surface water.”
Julekha Katun and Rukhsana Akter of Mahinanda village said they had to collect drinking water from an only operative tube-well which was situated about one kilometre away from their homesteads.
“We have to stand on a long queue and face bitter experience as often the people get lock in quarrel to get water first,” said Julekha Katun.
Md Habibur Rahman of Charsolakia area like many others town dwellers alleged that the Public Health Engineering Department was not taking any step to overcome the scarcity of pure water in municipality area.
Some hotel owners of the town said they were compelled to serve the customers with surface water as there was no tube-well near his shop.
Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department of Kishoreganj Md Tofazzal Haque told the Dhaka Tribune that the level of water had fallen from 30 to 45 feet and for this reason water was not available in tube-wells.
Adequate fund is needed for making the tube-wells operative, he said.
