Five lakh people of Satkhira face safe water crisis

The safe water crisis has intensified along the southwest coast of the country since Hurricane Aila in 2009. As a result of natural calamities in the last few years, more than five lakh people of Satkhira coast are not getting potable water. This crisis has intensified during the current drought season.

The villagers are now being forced to collect water from a few kilometers away with pitchers. Even in Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat areas at least 4 million people spend their days drinking water from ponds and salt water of rivers. This is known from the information given by the officials of a non-governmental organization in Satkhira.

According to government estimates, 22 percent of people in Khulna, 15 percent in Bagerhat and 13 percent in Satkhira are in dire need of drinking water. Although this information is given officially, the picture of reality is more grim. In order to alleviate the water crisis, government and private initiatives have been taken to dig ponds, install tubewells, install ponds and filters (PSFs) for drinking water along the coast and retain rainwater. They also said that the crisis is not going away.

Out of 23 lakh 46 thousand 681 people of Satkhira, more than five lakh are in acute crisis of potable water. The women of the village go a few kilometers away and collect water every day.

Piyush Baulia Pintu, a resident of the coastal Munshiganj area, said, "There was no water crisis in our area before Cyclone Aila. Water salinity has increased since 2009. The drinking water crisis has also intensified. The water crisis will be more pronounced this season.

Shefali Begum of Datinakhali area of Burigowali union in Shyamnagar upazila said, `There is a problem of drinking water in our area. You have to go two-three kilometers away with a pitcher to fetch water. Go there and stand in line again. It takes three to four hours a day to collect drinking water. In the dry season our area is in dire need of water. The water crisis has not been resolved since 2009. Who knows when this trouble for water will end '!

Shefali Khatun, also known as 'Pani Apa' from Hawalbhangi village in Atulia Union, said, `She cleans the houses that have water filters. Also teaches others how to clean filters. She took 20 taka from everyone for repairing the filter’.

Mohan Kumar Mandal, executive director of Leaders, a non-governmental development organization, said, "More projects are needed to address the drinking water crisis." In particular, large scale projects like pond excavation, installation of PSF, installation of tubewells and conservation of rain water need to be developed.

Shyamnagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Akhtaruzzaman said, `Government and non-government organizations are working to solve the drinking water crisis. There are deep tube wells and large water tanks. Public and private water tanks have been provided to retain rain water. In areas where salt water comes from deep tube wells, ponds have been cut and potable water has been provided’.

Shahidul Islam, executive engineer of Satkhira Public Health Engineering Department, said that due to climate change, salt water is entering the locality every year due to cyclones and tidal surges and drinking water reservoirs are being destroyed. Besides, deep tube wells are not successful in all places of Satkhira coast.

He further said, Deep tube wells are being installed in different areas. In areas where brackish water rises from deep tube wells, ponds have been cut and potable water has been provided. The water problem of this region will be solved very soon.

Satkhira district relief and rehabilitation officer Md A. Basheed said Satkhira is facing various disasters every year as it is a coastal district. Salinity of drinking water is becoming a big problem day by day. The present government is working on disaster risk reduction through various projects.