Severe Water Crisis in Chattogram: WASA Building Surrounded by Protesters

Local Correspondent

Amidst Ramadan, the severe water crisis has left the people of Chattogram frustrated and angry. Eventually, the public took to the streets. Residents of North Pathantuli Ward in the city surrounded the WASA building to protest and demand uninterrupted water supply.

On Tuesday afternoon, people from areas like Dhanyalapara, Supariwalapara, Postarpara, Dewanhat, and Motiyarpol gathered at the WASA intersection with a procession.

Locals reported that a severe water crisis has recently emerged in Chattogram. Particularly, after the WASA pipeline was cut at Sagorika intersection on Saturday, the water supply has completely stopped. In this situation, the protesters submitted a memorandum to WASA officials, who assured them that water supply would resume by Tuesday night.

However, as of Wednesday, the water crisis persists. Life has become unbearable for residents in various parts of the city due to the water shortage. Daily activities like bathing, cooking, and other necessities are being disrupted due to the lack of water.

Mohammad Sirajul Islam, a representative of the 23 North Pathantuli Chattogram WASA Consumer Welfare Committee, submitted the memorandum.

He stated that the water crisis in their area is not new. Previously, they received water from WASA’s deep tube well in the Collegiate School area. Later, through protests, they were connected to the JICA supply line. However, due to the small diameter of the pipeline, they do not receive sufficient water, leading to an ongoing crisis.

The memorandum alleged that technical faults and negligence by WASA officials have prevented the resolution of this crisis. The protesters demanded a quick solution.

WASA officials stated that the water supply has been halted due to damage to the pipeline at Sagorika, but efforts are being made to supply some water through alternative means. However, no effective long-term solution has been found yet.

Local resident Iqbal Haider said, “There has been no water connection since Saturday night. We couldn’t store water beforehand, so we’re facing severe hardship.”

WASA’s Chief Engineer Maksud Alam explained that the pipeline at Sagorika was damaged due to a mistake by Power Grid Bangladesh’s contractor. The pipeline burst due to excavation equipment, rendering the Halishahar reservoir unusable. Repair work is underway, and efforts are being made to resolve the issue by tonight.

Earlier, on Sunday, WASA issued a public notice stating that during the work on the “Expansion and Strengthening of Chattogram’s Power Transmission System” project, a 44-inch diameter pipeline was damaged, causing water supply disruptions in areas like Agrabad, West Madarbari, Halishahar, and Dewanhat.