Khulna's latest water solution

We are filled with a sense of optimism to know that a much awaited scheme to supply 110 million litres of safe water to half of Khulna city's dwellers is underway. With the severe salinity of two major rivers Bhairab and Rupsha, in addition to supply shortages, Khulna city has been facing a water crisis for years, causing immense suffering to its residents. At present only a quarter of the population has access to safe water –  with the supply falling drastically short of demand.

The project, moreover, will ensure safe, potable water for as many as eight lakh people who remain outside the formal coverage. This means fewer epidemics of waterborne diseases and a significant improvement in the quality of life in this area.

It is heartening that the government, with the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), have been able to design this impressive scheme that seems to have all the ingredients of a success story.

The claim that it has been designed in keeping with climate change impacts, is however, debatable. Whether the plan to build a reservoir to store over 77 crore litres of untreated water as backup in case of extreme salinity of the regular water supply will actually be an adequate solution, remains to be seen.

Water contamination and shortage of supply have been perennial problems for residents of most urban areas in the country. With a growing urban population and over extraction of water from deep tube wells that often lead to contamination and depletion of the water table, there is greater likelihood of a water crisis in the cities. Projects like this, therefore, should be replicated in all urban areas. That will make life considerably easier for millions of urbanites.