Water returns to Choichari village

Science says that water flows in circles: we know that evaporation from river and sea returns water vapour to the sky, to condense and fall once more as precipitation. In hilltop Choichari village in Ghilachari union of Rangamati's Naniachar upazila, water also has a circular history, though of a different sort. The once pristine village was blessed by a runnel of fresh water running through its midst; but due to environmental degradation caused by logging, some years ago the runnel ran dry. But now, thanks to the efforts of villagers and the NGO 'Progressive', fresh water has returned.

“I don't have any trouble to get water now,” says Sumati Chakma, 32, from Choichari. “We can simply sit at home and have drinking water. Many neighbouring housewives are also enjoying the improved situation. Not so long ago there was a water crisis.

Older villagers recall that once, thanks to nature, there was a lot of water. The village is built on both sides of the runnel upon which they relied. But day by day, due to logging the runnel ran dry; yet there was water during the rainy season, but in the dry months when there was water it was dirty, and at other times the village was water deprived. It wasn't only drinking water that was lacking; basic sanitation also became a luxury. As a result, many people died of diarrhoea. All 45 families who relied on the runnel-water suffered.

Then in 2008 the Village Development Committee, a village-based organisation, took up the challenge of ensuring a safe water supply. They called all the villagers to a meeting to discuss the issue and agreed to forest conservation initiatives, such as to preserve the forest for five kilometres around the village.

In 2013, the NGO Progressive took up the challenge as well. They developed a three-kilometre pipeline that would bring fresh water from a waterfall to a village tank, and on to every village home. It was a project that cost Tk 10 lakh.

“Villagers are really enjoying the benefits of the water supply,” says Ghilachari union's chairman Amar Jibon Chakma. “They have no trouble to collect water now. We are all grateful to Progressive for the work they've done.”

Progressive's executive director Sucharita Chakma notes the project was possible due to the cooperation of Choichari's villagers and also because of collaboration of NGO FORUM. “Our project here will end this December,” she says. “From then the water supply will be under the supervision of the villagers themselves.”