How to stop fall of groundwater table

Water is the basis of all life. We know how important water is for our survival. It is impossible to think of a day without water. This is why we often say that the other name for water is life. However, about 97.3 per cent of the world's total water is saltwater, which we cannot drink. The remaining 2.7 per cent is fresh water. In Bangladesh, we rely heavily on our groundwater resource for various purposes including irrigation and everyday use. But about two and a half million people in the country now do not have access to drinkable water as the groundwater level is slowly going down. It is happening as a result of excessive use of groundwater, according to the Water Aid. This is graver particularly in the upstream areas. Most of the people in these areas are dependent on tube wells. They used to draw water with the help of tube wells for drinking, household, cooking, etc. But it is now impossible to lift water with the help of tube wells due to falling water levels. Even if a small amount of water is lifted, it is mixed with various harmful substances including arsenic, which is poison to human body. Another study says that 56 per cent of people in the country drink safe water, but only 36 per cent of the poor have access to safe water.

According to the groundwater zoning map of the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, nearly 500,000 shallow tube wells become unusable every year during the dry season in the country. Well-off people are now installing submersible pumps instead of tube wells. Its cost is comparatively high, which is beyond the affordability of low-income families. At present, the local government has taken initiatives to provide safe water, but common people are still not getting it in most areas of the country. According to the BADC, a severe water shortage has already occurred in a total of 192 upazilas under 41 districts of the country. The authorities concerned should emphasise on proper management and monitoring to eliminate the problem of groundwater depletion. If we do not take any effective preventive measures right now, there may come a time when we will have no groundwater to extract.

Swarnali Dey,

Student of Department of Economics,

swarnalidey388@gmail.com