Affected villagers warn of agitation from Oct 26

Affected people of 10 villages around Barapukuria 250MW Power Plant in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur district yesterday warned of launching a tough programme on October 26 if their three-point demand is not met within October 25.
Demanding solution to the water crisis caused due to installation of the power plant, the villagers under the banner of Dudhipukur Pani O Bidyut Sangram Committee organised a press conference at Phulbari Press Club yesterday noon.
Md Anwarul Haque, a freedom fighter and convener of the committee, read out the keynote in presence of other members of the committee and affected villagers.
Urging the authorities to meet their three-point demand including solving water and power crisis in the 10 affected villages within October 25, the speakers at the press conference said otherwise the affected villagers would suspend water supply through the 14 high-power water pumps installed at the plant.
As the authorities set up at least 14 pumps at Sherpur village near Barapukuria Power Plant which pump out at least 1200 tonnes of water an hour to generate power from the plant, people of 10 surrounding villages are facing problem as the water table went down, said the affected villagers.
The tube-wells of 10 affected villagers have remained inoperative for the last 4/5 years, they said at the press conference.
Due to water crisis, the affected villagers need to fetch water from 2 to 5km away to meet their daily needs. Besides, they are being forced to use the contaminated water of power plant drained through a tunnel and it is causing skin problems to the villagers.
Earlier, last month the affected villagers laid siege to the power plant for an hour demanding solution to the problems.
Biswanath Haldar, chief engineer of the power plant, said that he sent a report to his higher authority in this regards.
The residents of these areas now rely on reserved water to quench their thirst.
Excessive water lifting by the 14 water pumps of the power plant, especially during the summer, has aggravated the problem. Most natural water sources that support the water supply in the area have partially dried up and that in turn has led to the lowering of the water level, causing problem in getting water from tube-wells, speakers said at the press conference.
The arable fields near the power plant are also facing irrigation problem due to the situation, speakers said, adding that several families have left the villages due to water crisis.
Shafiqul Islam, Md Abdur Rahman, Md Abdul Kalam Azad, Samidul islam, Md Ashraful Alam, Shahidul Islam Bachchu, Mofizul Islam Badsha, Md Masud Rana, Md Moslem Uddin, Md Mazedur Rahman, Yousuf Ali and Abdul Kayum spoke at the press conference.