RAJSHAHI, Mar 9 (BSS): Speakers at a discussion underscored the need for ensuring safe water from source to consumers for the sake of protecting the city dwellers from various waterborne diseases.
They noted that the authorities concerned should work together in this regard as safe water is the fundamental rights of the people irrespective of caste and creed.
The observations came at an orientation workshop styled "Establishing Water Safety Plan (WSP) in Rajshahi city" held at Hotel Mukta International on Sunday last.
Rajshahi WASA and Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) jointly organised the workshop in association with World Health Organisation.
Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, addressed the event as the chief guest with Dhirendra Nath Sarker, Managing Director of Rajshahi WASA was in the chair.
Pro-VC of Rajshahi University Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan, Dean of Civil Engineering Faculty of RUET Prof Dr Iqbal Matin, Civil Surgeon Dr Abdus Sobhan and Executive Engineer of DPHE Khan Golam Rabbani spoke as special guests.
During his keynote presentation, Parvez Mahmud, Superintending Engineer of RWASA, gave an overview of the city's water supply management while WSP Specialist Anis Sarker, in his PowerPoint presentation, narrated the aspects of the project plan and its upcoming ground level activities.
They told the audience that main objectives of the WSP are to ensure safe drinking water through good water supply practice for substantial and sustainable prevention of water sources contamination.
Besides, the scheme intends to treat the water to reduce or remove contamination that could be present to the extent necessary to meet the water quality target. There is also provision of preventing re-contamination during storage, distribution and handling of drinking water.
The discussants said the Rajshahi WASA should provide safe water to consumers through improved management, standard operations and proper maintenance of the system.
So, emphasis should be given on creating awareness among customers on water quality and active participation in establishing WSP. Time has come to establish water quality monitoring and reporting framework for operational monitoring and WSP verification, they added.
Lawmaker Badsha commented that necessary measures should be taken to make the water supply system sustainable through improvement of water sources management to enhance the living condition of hardcore poor people. There is no way but to improve the health as well as reducing medical cost of the city dwellers, he added.
