Locals, animals depend on one water source in Koyra

The Koyra upazila, a disaster-prone area surrounded by the Sundarbans of Khulna district has been grappling of severe shortages of clean drinking water as the lack of water sources create a vacume for the locals. Due to the severe problem, the locals and animals are depending on a water source ‘pond’.

Although there are vast bodies of water all around, safe drinking water is not available anywhere; most of it is saline.

There are deep tubewells in many areas, However, the source failed to serve as it contains of iron and salt.

People and domestic animals [cows, goats, and others] are forced to use the same pond water, posing a serious health risks. Local residents are suffering from various water-borne diseases by drinking contaminated pond water.

On-site visit to the government pond of Koyra village number 5 of Sadar Union of the upazila last Tuesday, it was seen that people from several villages had come from far and wide on foot in the late afternoon to collect drinking water in the heat of Baishakh.

Khadija Khatun,50, has come to this government pond after walking 4 kilometers from village number 6, Koira, across an empty field to fetch water. “We have a lot of trouble with water. I need four pitchers of water every day but cannot fetch four pitchers of water at once. So I am forced to come here twice. My daughter and I come to fetch water.

Koyra Upazila Public Health Engineer Istiak Ahmed said, Koyra is a disaster-prone area. Almost most of the people here are poor. Due to salinity, it is not possible to install deep tube wells in most areas.

Since Koyra is a saline area, there is a shortage of drinking water during the summer as the water in the pond decreases. However, efforts are being made to meet the water needs of the local people throughout the year by providing tanks and storing rainwater.

Upazila Executive Officer Ruli Biswas said, there is a severe shortage of drinking water in Koyra. In areas where tube wells are not successful, water tanks are being provided by the government. I was not aware of the issue of Koira Government Pond No. 5. I have informed you through you. The Public Health Engineering Department will quickly clean the PSF of the pond and arrange for a fence around it so that no animals can enter the pond.

About 300,000 people live in the 7 unions of the upazila, but 60 percent of them are deprived of safe drinking water.

There is a severe shortage of drinking water in most areas of the upazila including Koyra No. 5, Koyra No. 6, Koyra No. 4, Gariabari, Patharkhali, Mathbari, Tentultalar Char, Kalibari Sathalia, Chowkuni, Gatirgheri.