Acute water shortage grips Ctg South Halishahar

Some unscrupulous residents of South Halishahar of Chittagong city are making a quick buck by illegally selling water obtained from domestic connections, causing an acute water shortage.
With water available in the mains for only 24 hours every week, these residents, usually housed at the entrance of alleys, use powerful motors to quickly fill their reserve tanks.
This leaves other residents living farther down the alleys with very little or no water at all, compelling them to sometimes purchase it from these illegal water traders.
The acute water shortage became prominent since October 2011, when Chittagong Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) decided to provide water in South Halishahar from Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon.
“As soon as water arrives, these traders fill up numerous jars and large reserve tanks in their houses to sell later on,” said Abul Hossain, a resident suffering from the water shortage.
Every day over 1,500 jars, each with a capacity of 20 litres, are sold to different households, shops, restaurants and businesses for Tk 20 each, said Abul.
“We requested these traders to stop their business for at least two hours so that we can collect water for our households, but they do not pay heed to our request,” he added.
A good number of these traders are active in Cement Crossing, Bandartilla, Kazir Goli, Alishah Para and Narikel Tola areas under South Halishahar.
On a visit to Narikel Tola recently, a number vans filled with water jars were found parked outside some houses.
The locals were quick to name some of the traders -- Mohammed Rafiq, Khalil, Jasim Uddin, Alamgir, Jamal Uddin, Shahnoor and Nur Mohammed.
Jasim was found filling a jar on his yard and admitted of his involvement.
Shahnoor, Jasim's neighbour, said, “You can find nearly 100 others involved in this business. If the business is illegal then Chittagong Wasa would have taken action against us.”
Accusing Chittagong Wasa officials of taking bribes to remain silent on the issue, the locals said to have made several complaints to a metre reader of Chittagong Wasa, Md Kamal Khan, with no result.
Admitting that he had received the complaints, Kamal claimed that he had not found the traders “red handed”.
The locals said if Chittagong Wasa and other authorities concerned do not take steps immediately, more people would be encouraged into the illicit business and cause a huge amount of revenue loss.
Chittagong Wasa charges Tk 6.57 per 1,000 litres of water from domestic consumers while the rate is Tk 18.62 for commercial consumers.
Running a water supply business requires traders to have, among others, a license from Chittagong City Corporation, a commercial connection from Chittagong Wasa, and approvals from Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, Department of Public Health Engineering and the district civil surgeon.
None of the traders have the aforementioned. Chittagong Wasa Chief Revenue Officer Khaled Mahmud said, “We do not allow anyone to sell Wasa water until they have commercial connections, water plants and the approvals required.” He said mobile courts would be conducted in the areas once every week.