Army deployment for easing water crisis delayed
The army will be deployed to maintain security at Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) water pump stations by next week.
The Army personnel will also assist Dhaka WASA towards smooth water distribution in different parts of the capital, official sources said.
Earlier, troops had been scheduled to be deployed from Thursday following Prime Minister’s directive to help WASA tackle the severe water crisis in the capital.
When contacted, Managing Director of WASA Taqsem A Khan told UNB that the troops were scheduled to be deployed from today, but actually a couple more days were needed before they can be deployed.
“The troops which were supposed to be deployed are now engaged in another assignment. That’s why it needs couple of more days,” the WASA MD said.
He said army personnel will be deployed within next week after completion of their assignments.
The government took the decision of army deployment as in previous years as the city dwellers experience a severe crisis of water especially in summer.
Even lawmakers of Dhaka city on Wednesday in a meeting with LGRD Minister Sayed Ashraful Islam expressed concern over the acute water crisis and apprehended that the suffering of citizens may burst into anger if the problem is not immediately mitigated.
MPs fear mass outburst over city water crises
Lawmakers of Dhaka city have expressed concern over acute water crisis in the Dhaka city and apprehended that suffering citizens may burst into anger if the problem is not immediately mitigated.
Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiudding MP and Habibur Rahman Molla MP, Asaduzzaman Khan MP and Sanjida Khanam MP were among those who met with LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam at his office on Wednesday and ventilated the grievances of the citizens.
Ashraf assured them that water supply would be eased with deployment of the Army at WASA water pump stations in the city for their uninterrupted operation. The Army personnel will also protect the WASA pumps from possible mob attack.
Also general secretary of the ruling Awami League Ashraf told the MPs that the government is trying to resolve the water crisis. Water will be supplied by tanks wherever necessary.
He informed that water supply in the city has been increased by 14 crore liters a day to meet the scarcity. WASA now supplies 185 to 190 crore liters as against the estimated demand of 220 crore liters.
The Minister attributed the water scarcity to the power load shedding that disrupted operation of water pumps.
The MPs suggested the minister to install more water pumps to meet the rising demand in the city. They said the government should take immediate steps to help ease the unbearable water crisis otherwise suffering people might burst into anger.
--UNB, Dhaka
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