Severe water crisis grips Sylhet

City corporation currently supplies 3cr litres of water per day against the demand for 8cr litres

Sylhet has been reeling under a severe water crisis for several weeks now, and matters have been made worse by the rising temperatures.
Residents alleged that the city corporation was sending them regular bills despite their repeated complaints about the water crisis. The corporation, on the other hand, alleged that many people were not paying their bills.
According to the civic body, it spends Tk. 50 lakh every month on water supply, while they earn only Tk. 10–12 lakh. The corporation currently supplies 3 crore litres of water per day against the demand for 8 crore litres.
The situation has worsened this season, with the water levels of all rivers hitting rock bottom. Many people are reportedly buying water from private sources.
Abul Ahmed, a pump operator at the Tupkhana water pump-house, said, “We can supply sufficient water in the rainy season, but with the water levels going down, we are in a fix.”
He explained that some muddy water had entered the tank during the last rainy season. “After treating this water, we would be able to supply some more to citizens,” he said.
Md Ali Akbar, executive engineer of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), said, “We can alleviate the water crisis once the construction of the Kushighat water treatment plant is completed. It can supply 2.5 crore litres per day. The capacity of the Tupkhana water pump would be increased to 1 crore litres per day from 6 lakh litres. Within the next year, we will be able to supply another 1 crore litres everyday.” A Tk. 300-crore project to supply 5 crore litres of water everyday has also been planned, Akbar said.

Severe water crisis grips Sylhet

City corporation currently supplies 3cr litres of water per day against the demand for 8cr litres

Sylhet has been reeling under a severe water crisis for several weeks now, and matters have been made worse by the rising temperatures. Residents alleged that the city corporation was sending them regular bills despite their repeated complaints about the water crisis. The corporation, on the other hand, alleged that many people were not paying their bills. According to the civic body, it spends Tk. 50 lakh every month on water supply, while they earn only Tk. 1012 lakh. The corporation currently supplies 3 crore litres of water per day against the demand for 8 crore litres. The situation has worsened this season, with the water levels of all rivers hitting rock bottom. Many people are reportedly buying water from private sources. Abul Ahmed, a pump operator at the Tupkhana water pump-house, said, We can supply sufficient water in the rainy season, but with the water levels going down, we are in a fix. He explained that some muddy water had entered the tank during the last rainy season. After treating this water, we would be able to supply some more to citizens, he said. Md Ali Akbar, executive engineer of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), said, We can alleviate the water crisis once the construction of the Kushighat water treatment plant is completed. It can supply 2.5 crore litres per day. The capacity of the Tupkhana water pump would be increased to 1 crore litres per day from 6 lakh litres. Within the next year, we will be able to supply another 1 crore litres everyday. A Tk. 300-crore project to supply 5 crore litres of water everyday has also been planned, Akbar said.