The New Nation - Internet Edition

Mahbubur Rahman Khan

Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), is setting up 11 new deep tube-wells and refurbishing 10 others at different places of Dhaka city to provide uninterrupted safe drinking water to the citizens during Ramzan.

Shab-e-Barat will be observed on August 16 and the holy Ramzan will begin 15 days later. Normally, the crisis of drinking water creeps up during the holy month for which the citizen faces much trouble.

Recalling the memories of the last years, Mahfuzur Rahman, an inhabitant of old Dhaka, said, "We had to wait all night for reserving supply water during Ramzan. Sometimes, we walked miles to fetch water from our relatives' houses. We do not even get water for ablution to offer prayers in mosques."

He requested this correspondent to draw the attention of the authority to take timely steps to mitigate the problem.

When The New Nation contacted the WASA an official said the demand of drinking water remains the same all through the 11 months of a year. But the demand increases during Ramzan just because of the change in the daily routine of most of the city dwellers, he added.

The WASA authority informed that it is sinking 11 new deep tube-wells at BDR Headquarters, Maddha Pirerbag, Maddha Paikpara, Banasri F- block, Mirpur-1, Vatara, Mirpur-10 (A), Khilgaon rehabilitation zone, Baaishtek, Mirpur-14 (D) and Lalmatia Block-D.

It also informed that WASA was repairing 10 deep tube-wells in different areas- Mirpur-10, Kalabagan, Kachukhet, Narinda, Dakhin Kamlapur, Becharum Dewri, Dakhin Bansri, Sonatangor, Mirpur-7 and Banasri-Block D of Dhaka city to ensure continuity of supply of drinking water during Ramzan.

The authority also said, the complaint centre of WASA would remain open round-the-clock to ensure consumers a constant supply of water.

The WASA water lorries would supply drinking water at Iftar times at different points in the city. The WASA would set up water tanks at market places, especially in old Dhaka to provide drinking water to the locals and pedestrians, the authority added.

When asked about load shedding and power interruptions, which are held responsible for the low production of water, an official replied that 264 generators would remain standby to make up for load shedding and power interruptions.

The 491 WASA deep tube-wells in Dhaka city pumps around 140-150 crore litres of water daily.