In support of setting up water desalination plants

WE reiterate our strong support to the views expressed on a number of occasions by different contributors to the letters to the Editor column of your daily about the need for setting up water desalination plants. Time is, indeed, ripe to start considering the establishment of water desalination plants in Bangladesh seriously. Our rivers are experiencing leaner and more polluted flows and it is proving to be too dangerous to encourage free-style lifting of underground water. Land subsidence now appears to be taking place at a rapid pace because of lifting of underground water under such circumstances. A growing threat of earthquakes is already there. Barrages that have been set up or are being planned to be built up in the upstreams of most common rivers in the Indian part on many points, are one of the main causes of the threat of worse water scarcity in Bangladesh. There is uncertainty with regard to Bangladesh having fruitful negotiations with India, leading to a fair share of the waters from all the common rivers. Meanwhile, the need for fresh water from drinking and cleaning to irrigation and industrial uses, would be fast increasing in Bangladesh. Already, fresh water supply has become a serious concern in many parts of this country. Even in the capital city, Dhaka, a big deficit is noted in fresh water availability compared to the demand. The fast growing population and rise in water demand for various uses are likely to compound the problems relating to supplies of fresh water in the near future. The need for fresh water in Bangladesh will, however, have to be largely met from non-conventional sources. Desalination plants to remove salt from sea-water and using the same will have to be the main source of such non-conventional supply of water, to a great extent, for Bangladesh. Several countries are already applying the method with a great deal of success. Bangladesh should, therefore, seriously consider setting up water desalination plants as an appropriate forward-moving strategy for its future water security. The realisation should lead to taking of actions as soon as possible and to make serious efforts to line up funds and technical support from external sources for this purpose. After building such plants, the desalinated water will have to be piped over long distances -- inland -- to major user-points in the cities and agricultural areas. Thus, ample investments will be required for laying infrastructures to bring such a benefit to the doorsteps of the people. Ahmed Fazal Segunbagicha, Dhaka Corruption and the plight of Ramna-Moghbazar people Members of our Jatiya Sangsad (JS) demand the development of communications, electric supply, schools and colleges, markets, irrigation, hospitals etc while speaking in Parliament but they never utter anything about the development of their own constituency. Ramna, Moghbazar is an example. Rashed Khan is the member of parliament (MP) here. The Rashed Khan Menon Sarak from Banglamotor to Moghbazar crossing is filthy with garbage overflowing from many of the manholes. Footpath slabs are missing making it dangerous for pedestrians. Most footpaths are occupied by automobile workshops and motor-parts sellers, vendors, etc while the government machinery stresses on use of footpath by pedestrians. The Dhaka WASA revenue officials are busy collecting cash against Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) bills. Failing to meet their illegal demands the consumers are harassed through false or exorbitant bills or meter defects. Should not the local MP look into such matters according to the Awami League election manifesto of 2008? World Bank has stopped funding for Padma Bridge in view of alleged corruption. In future it may stop financing WASA projects in Dhaka. What a disaster it would be! The relevant agencies may investigate the assets of WASA revenue officials the way the Caretaker Government did. As a result 450 officials confessed their guilt and deposited millions of taka to government treasury. Mere utterances against corruption is not enough. Let the government do something. Meanwhile WASA billing may be given to private agencies -- be it a large non-government organisation or any other agency. Mahmud Ali Rashed Khan Memon Sarak Dhaka-1000