Dhaka WASA must solve water crisis facing residents in capital

Life has almost come to a standstill. First, there is the ongoing heat wave with no rain for about ten days and then, as a corollary to it for increasing demand for power, the frequent load-shedding — in many places reportedly load-shedding occurs about eight times a day — these problems have made life unbearable everywhere in Bangladesh. But the residents in many places of the capital Dhaka are facing an acute water crisis that has turned their lives more miserable amid frequent power cuts and sweltering heat.

According to a report of a national daily yesterday, Dhaka residents in places like Mohammadpur, Adabor, Hazaribagh, Jigatala, Gendaria, and South Goran, are suffering from an acute water crisis. Reportedly, families received only two buckets of water in a day for their usage, while many claimed they did not have any water supply in the past four days. When there is no water at home, one has to buy food from restaurants creates an extra financial burden when people are struggling to make ends meet in these days of high food inflation.

The Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority made no secret and blamed the ongoing frequent power cuts and hot weather for the recent water crisis. The Dhaka WASA’s operational generators have at present — 450 in total — are not being able to create a smooth supply of water. It needs more generators to do the work.

However, there is no word from the WASA about mitigating the water crisis any time soon. Still, from this heavily corrupt most important utility service provider, it was said that the water crisis would be even more acute in the days ahead if load shedding increases as is being feared.

The residents of Dhaka — mostly live in rented facilities — pay much more than what they should for water they use monthly. Most rented households give Tk 500 to the flat owners for the monthly consumption of water. Many have to pay Tk 1000 or more for it. But at the current rate at which WASA sells water to residents Tk 500 is alleged to have much more than the actual price. Therefore, it is really unjust that people are not getting water despite paying more than what is necessary. Still, water supplied by WASA is often found to be blackish and odorous and not fit for use in household cleaning purposes, let alone drinking.