The High Court today ordered the government to stop withdrawal of ground water at four villages in Patiya upazila in Chattogram.

It also asked the authorities concerned of the government to arrange supply of portable and household water for the villages of Char Kanai, Hulaine, Panchuria and Habilash Dweep until the government decides whether the villages will be declared as water stressed area.

The HC bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi came up with the order following a writ petition filed by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association in 2015 seeking necessary order in this regard.

Petitioners lawyer Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters that around three hundred tube wells at the four villages become out of order as H Industries was withdrawing ground water in the area. As a result, around 30 thousand people were not getting portable and household water in the upazila, she said.

Today, 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 portable and household water to villages until they take the decision, the lawyer added.