WASA blames DESA for water crisis in city

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) blamed Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (DESA) for the frequent disruptions in water supply in different parts of the capital city during the holy month of Ramadan, reports UNB.brThe residents of Dhaka city are facing severe water crisis despite the authorities' assurance to maintain smooth supply during Ramadan. brDESA is 90 per cent responsible for the present water crisis as water supply is being disrupted due to heavy load shedding, a top WASA official told the news agency, when asked about the severe water crisis in areas like New Eskaton, Kalabagan, Indira Road, Sheorapara, Kazipara and Senpara.brNew Eskaton, Sheorapara, Kazipara, Senpara and old Dhaka are the worst-affected areas going without any water supply for the last five days. brThe situation in the areas reached such a pass that the mosque authorities requested the devotees over mike to make ablution from outside. brThe official said there would be no water crisis in the city if WASA was given 2.0 per cent of electricity that DESA got for the capital city. So, the main problem behind the water crisis is short supply of electricity, the WASA official said over telephone from the Panthakunja water pump Friday afternoon.brHe said Dhaka WASA now has a total of 232 generators to supply water during load shedding. But most of the generators are out of order, as nearly 50 percent of the generators were procured before 1996. brSo, it has become difficult to continue water supply with these obsolete generators. We're operating those through frequent repairs. brHe said WASA is planning to have gas generators, but those will be available from the next season.brThe official said water pumps at Hazaribagh, Tejgaon and Shyampur were denied adequate power supply, but nearby industrial units get uninterrupted supply. Dhaka WASA provides Tk 90 crore as tax each year, he said. brRejecting the WASA allegation, a DESA chief engineer said It's our character to often shift blame on to other's shoulders by hiding our own weakness or shortcomings. brHe said the demand of electricity has been rising in the city while production has not increased at all. How can we ensure uninterrupted supply of electricitybrHasina Begum, a housewife in New Eskaton area, said she could not take bath for last two days, nor could she wash clothes during this holy month of Ramadan as they did not get water for last four days.brShe said people in the area even could not drink adequate water during Sehri. We get some water just before iftar but then we've a long wait before we get water again at about 9 am.brMustafizur Rahman, a house owner in the area, said being pressed repeatedly by his tenants he went to the Dhaka WASA head office to find out the reason behind the perennial water problem, but did not get any cooperation from the WASA officials.brIt's very tough for people of such areas to do fasting without water. On Wednesday night, I could not even drink a glass of water during Sehri, he said. brMany residents in the water-starved areas said they go to the houses of relatives and friends in other areas to take bath and wash clothes.br