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Dhaka MPs wake up to water crisis

Staff Correspondent
Members of the parliament (MPs) from different constituencies of Dhaka feared a big movement if the government fails to resolve the city's existing water crisis immediately.
They expressed the concern at an emergency meeting held at the ministry yesterday with LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam in the chair in the wake of water crisis in different parts of the capital.
Referring to the recent agitations for water in Mirpur area, lawmakers indicated that more agitations might take place in other parts of the city if such crisis continues.
They said the water crisis is mounting in the city day by day and it should be addressed immediately to avert a greater movement.
Syed Ashraful said the lawmakers of Dhaka will be engaged in dealing with the water crisis. "A government order defining the role of MPs will be issued within a week to cope up with the water crisis,” he told the meeting.
He said the MPs along with Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) officials would monitor the situation and take immediate steps to resolve problems.
State minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak, LGRD secretary Sheikh Khurshid Alam and managing director (MD) ofWasa
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Raihanul Abedin, among others, spoke at the meeting.
Placing details of the city's water situation before the meeting, Abedin said Wasa will not able to resolve the existing water crisis immediately as the demand for water is growing faster than its production capacity.
“We produce 194 crore litres of water against the current demand of 210 crore litres in a day," the Wasa MD said. He indicated that power-outage is one of the main reasons behind this existing water crisis.
But the MPs denounced his claim and said that the demand for water in a day would be much higher than 210 crore litres.
“Demonstrations and rallies are being held in Mirpur areas. A greater movement may flare-up in the city if the water crisis is not resolved immediately,” fears Kamal Ahmed Majumder, a lawmaker from Mirpur.
He said generators of 23 pumps out of 29 remain out of order in his constituency. The situation is similar in other parts ofthecity,”hesaid.
Lawmaker of Dhaka-4 constituency Sanjida Kha tun delineated a acute picture of water shortage and lower quality of water in her area.
“Before the ninth parliamentary elections, we pledged to resolve the water crisis. So. people are now coming to us and complaining for not fulfill -ing the pledge," she said fearing the same agitations.
The MPs suggested immedi -ate installation of pumps and supply of water in the crisis-ndden areas, including Mirpur, Sutrapurand Malibagh.
MP Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin said water in many areas is not drinkable due to severe odour.
The Wasa MD said they have to use extra chemicals to treat the severely contaminated water coming from the
Buriganga and other rivers. Using excess chemicals in water creates such bad smell, he added.
The meeting identified three reasons - increasing demand of water, declining ground water level and power-outages--behind the existing water crisis.
Wasa officials informed the meeting that a project invoking $ 2 million has been taken to repair the water and sewerage lines.
Lawmakers Fazle Nur Tapes, Aslamul Haq, Mizanur Rahman Khan, Nasim Osman, Illius Molla and Additional Secretary of LGRD Kamal Naser Chowdhury also addressed the meeting.