Lack of coordination makes nat'l water policy nonfunctional: Roundtable

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Despite having water-related 40 government organisations and at least 10 effective policies, the national water policy has failed to ensure a sustainable water supply management due to negligence and mismanagement, experts told a roundtable held in the city Monday, reports UNB.
They said lack of inter-departmental cooperation and exchange of proper information among the authorities concerned made the water resources sector almost fragile.
Transparency International, Bangladesh chapter (TIB) organised the roundtable titled 'Good Governance in Water Sector: Want Transparency and Accountability' at the National Press Club with its Trustee Board Chairman Prof Muzaffer Ahmed in the Chair.
TIB Programme Officer M Rafiqul Islam presented the keynote paper while TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman conducted the programme.
Prof Dr Fazlul Bari of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Prof Mahbubur Rahman of Dhaka University, Director General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Abul Kalam Mohd Azad, Dhaka City Corporation Chief Engineer Col M Ashfaqul Islam, among others, spoke at the roundtable.
They demanded immediate implementation of the National Water Policy-1999 and ratification of Bangladesh Water Law drafted by Water Resources Ministry for better water management.
Prof Muzaffer said it is important to remove corruption in the management of water resources. "The authorities concerned should involve the civil society in eradicating corruption."
He said the government should take effective measures for distributing drinking water for the poor city dwellers.
Abul Kalam said the government has extended its all-out support for the development of the water sector but it needs to have a comprehensive management in place to provide drinking and irrigation waters. "We're only looking at the donors."
Asked about present water crisis, he said Water Development Board has taken a programme to meet the demand.
"A 180-kilometre canal will be dug from the Jumuna river to the Buriganga river through the Dhaleswari river to supply better water to the city."