Supply drinkable water to four Patiya villages: HC to govt

In a rare move, the High Court yesterday ordered the government to arrange supply of potable and household water for four villages -- Charkanai, Hulaine, Panchuria and Habilashdweep -- in Patiya upazila of Chattogram.

Around 30,000 residents of these four villages are not getting safe water, as around 350 tube-wells in the areas have allegedly gone out of order due to withdrawal of ground water by eight factories.

Yesterday, the HC said the authorities concerned of the government will continue supply of potable and household water to the villagers of Charkanai, Hulaine, Panchuria and Habilashdweep villages until the government decides whether the villages will be declared water-stressed area.

The HC bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi also asked the authorities concerned to stop withdrawal of ground water at the four villages in Patiya.

The bench came up with the order following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela) in 2015, seeking necessary order in this regard.

Petitioner’s lawyer Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters that 350 tube wells set up by the Department of Public Health at the four villages went out of order as eight industries are withdrawing groundwater in the area. As a result, around 30,000 people were not getting drinkable and household water in the upazila, she said.

Yesterday, the HC asked the authorities concerned of the government to decide whether the four villages can be declared water stressed area under the Water Act.

The authorities will take steps to arrange supply of potable and household water to villages until they take the decision, Advocate Rizwana said, adding that no factories of “Red” or “Orange” classes can be established in the four villages in future without arranging alternative water.

Barrister Fida M Kamal, Advocate Minhazul Haque Chowdhury, Advocate Ali Mustafa Khan and Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Kabir also appeared for Bela.