<i>Chemical fertiliser used to treat drinking water!</i>
Three employees of Gaibandha Municipality were suspended on Friday for allegedly using ammonium sulphate in drinking water at a treatment plant.
Local people caught the employees, Nur Hossain, Modhu Mia and Hafizur Rahman Hiru, while they were using chemical fertiliser in water instead of aluminium sulphate at the water treatment plant at Masterpara in the town. They were later handed over to local councillor Motiur Rhaman Liton.
Being informed, Mayor Anwarul Hasan Sabur rushed to the spot and suspended the three staff.
Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) set up two water treatment plants--one in Masterpara and the other in Khakasharif areas--in the municipality in 1988 with Tk 6 crore grant provided by Japan's government to supply safe drinking water to townspeople.
The PHED handed over the plants to Gaibandha Municipality for operation and maintenance in 1999.
"We have lodged a complaint with the mayor recently as water supplied from the plant looked dirty and smelled bad, but to no effect," said town dweller Hafizur Rahman.
The employees do not carry out the instruction of the municipal authorities. They rarely use bleaching powder and alunimium sulphate for treating water at the plant, said the ward councillor.
As residents of the area, including children, often fall sick, using the contaminated water, many of the consumers cut off water supply connections, said locals.
"The matter is being investigated and corrupt employees will face the music," said Mayor Anwarul Hasan Sabur.
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