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Severe water crisis in west Rampura

Helemul Alam
Around 1,000 families in Ulon of west Rampura in the capital have been suffering from severe water crisis for over 10 days as the water Dhaka Wasa supplies is very dirty, coloured and stinking. The water is totally unusable.
A large number of the residents of the area between Ulon Bazar and Ulon main road have suffered diarrhoea because of the poor quality water, residents of the area claimed.
People of the area are now using water brought in from neighbouring areas or buying mineral water to meet their needs, they said.
Officials of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) have so far failed to take any effective measures to solve the problem even though they claimed to be taking necessary steps, they said.
An official of Wasa said the problem might have developed due to leakage in Wasa’s pipeline and they are trying their best to find the leak.
"The water that we are getting is just like sewage which is unusable even for household work," said Swapan Ahmed, a resident ofUlon.
He said he has been bringing in water from other areas and purchasingwater to meet his needs.
"I have not had a bath in three days due to the water crisis," said Samsuddoha. another resident of the area.
"I have been buying two containers of water every day for drinking and other household work. This is not much compared to what my family needs," said Jahanara, another resident.
Mini, a 12-year-oldwho came to a pharmacy in the area to buy ICDDR. B's oral saline for her one-year-old nephew, claimed the water of Dhaka Wasa is so dirty that even boiling does not purify it properly.
"Although we have been using Wasa’s water after boiling it, my nephew and my mother have been suffering from diarrhoea for the last two days," she said.
Ten minutes later, nine-year-old Sami came to buy oral saline for his mother and complained about the water like Mitu did.
Babul of "Progoti Oushadhalay". the pharmacy, said he has been selling more than 100 packs of oral saline and 10 packs of ICDDR, B's saline a day for the last few days. He used to sell 20 packs at best before.
Muslims offering prayers in mosques in the area are also suffering
Devotees who come to offer their prayers in Ulon Matbarban Masjid have to use the dirty water for ablution, said Ataur Rahman, a resident of the area. He has his baths and ablutions at a relative's house a kilometre away.
The crises made mineral water business very profitable there, said locals.
"1 have been supplying 20 containers of mineral water at Tk 40 each in the area... it was only two containers a day before the crisis, said Roman, a sales boy of a mineral water supply company.