Unplanned expansion causes city water crisis
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
FE Report
Water crisis is a common phenomenon in cities due to unplanned expansion caused by rapid migration of people from rural areas. The observation was made by the leading water experts, researchers and academicians at a press conference Monday. They emphasised the need for taking immediate measures to reduce the water demand-supply gap in cities and towns. Marking the observance of World Water Day, several organisations jointly organised the programme at the National Press Club. The discussants said Dhaka is among the fastest growing cities of the world and the pressure on its housing and other basic infrastructures is mounting. The speakers expressed the view that proper groundwater management would help meet the demand for water. The programme was organised jointly by DPHE, DWASA, UNIC, WHO, Unicef, WSP-the World Bank, UGIIP2, UPPR, Solidarities International and NGO Forum. State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud, who addressed the function as the chief guest, emphasised the need for protecting rivers and their normal flows to ensure sustainability of the country. "We cannot ensure supply of adequate drinking water to urban people if we cannot take initiative for recycling of fixed amount of water of the river and ground level since the source of water supply is decreasing but the urban population is growing," he said. Professor Mujibur Rahman, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET, focused on some immediate and long-term measures to ensure smooth water supply in the urban areas. Md Nuruzzaman, chief engineer of Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) presided over the programme. Chairman of Local Consultative Group (LCG) and Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Danish Embassy Jan Moller Hansen, Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Dulal Chandra Biswas, Regional Water and Sanitation Specialist, WSP - The World Bank Mark Ellery and Joint Editor of the Prothom Alo Abdul Quyum were also present. Jan Moller Hansen emphasised the need for making coordinated efforts to help resolve water crisis. Executive Director of NGO Forum SMA Rashid observed that availability of drinking water in the capital is becoming tougher day by day. Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamol Dutta moderated the programme.
Water crisis is a common phenomenon in cities due to unplanned expansion caused by rapid migration of people from rural areas. The observation was made by the leading water experts, researchers and academicians at a press conference Monday. They emphasised the need for taking immediate measures to reduce the water demand-supply gap in cities and towns. Marking the observance of World Water Day, several organisations jointly organised the programme at the National Press Club. The discussants said Dhaka is among the fastest growing cities of the world and the pressure on its housing and other basic infrastructures is mounting. The speakers expressed the view that proper groundwater management would help meet the demand for water. The programme was organised jointly by DPHE, DWASA, UNIC, WHO, Unicef, WSP-the World Bank, UGIIP2, UPPR, Solidarities International and NGO Forum. State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud, who addressed the function as the chief guest, emphasised the need for protecting rivers and their normal flows to ensure sustainability of the country. "We cannot ensure supply of adequate drinking water to urban people if we cannot take initiative for recycling of fixed amount of water of the river and ground level since the source of water supply is decreasing but the urban population is growing," he said. Professor Mujibur Rahman, Department of Civil Engineering, BUET, focused on some immediate and long-term measures to ensure smooth water supply in the urban areas. Md Nuruzzaman, chief engineer of Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) presided over the programme. Chairman of Local Consultative Group (LCG) and Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Danish Embassy Jan Moller Hansen, Director General of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Dulal Chandra Biswas, Regional Water and Sanitation Specialist, WSP - The World Bank Mark Ellery and Joint Editor of the Prothom Alo Abdul Quyum were also present. Jan Moller Hansen emphasised the need for making coordinated efforts to help resolve water crisis. Executive Director of NGO Forum SMA Rashid observed that availability of drinking water in the capital is becoming tougher day by day. Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamol Dutta moderated the programme.