KHULNA, Jan 23: There is a severe crisis of drinking water before the start of the summer season in the coastal areas of Satkhira district. The people of the coastal areas are suffering from various diseases by drinking unsafe water from the open pond of the area. On the other hand, about 40 per cent of privately-installed water purification filters have become out of order. As a result, women from different villages of coastal areas adjacent to the Sundarbans came to collect water for miles after miles on foot.
Mayna Khatun, housewife of Gainbari village of Gabura Union of Shyamnagar upazila, said that most people in her village drink water from open ponds. She said, "There are some tubewells in the village, but cannot get drinking water from those due to excessive saline. As a result, we have to take unsafe water from open waterbodies."
Similarly, Saraswati Sarker, another housewife of Phultala village of Munshiganj union, described the sufferings of drinking water. She said she collects drinking water for her family members from about 3.0 km away everyday.
Not only Mayna Khatun or Saraswati Sarker but 0.4 million people of coastal area of Shymnagor upazila demanded to solve the problem of drinking water.
It is learnt that about 70 per cent of the total population of Shyamnagar upazila has been facing crisis of drinking water since 1990. Shrimp cultivation in saline water, river erosion and other natural disasters is responsible for this, claimed the local people.
Shyamnagar UNO office sources said there are 5,795 ponds and 136 jalmohals in 12 unions of the upazila. Apart from that, most of the water purification filters have been closed due lack of management.
Principal Ashek-e-Elahi, leader of the movement for protection of the river, said to reduce water crisis, ponds should be repaired for use.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
