Pollution of tube-well water poses health risk

Pollution of underground water affecting tube-wells at Munshipara of Saidpur municipality under the district poses serious health hazard for about five hundred families.

The situation has arisen as unauthorised sand extraction with dredgers made Bangladesh Railway owned Jorapukur pond 35-40 feet deep and the consequent vacuum under the ground led to the collapse of the main surface drain in the area.

The dirty drain water mixed with the pond water and it affected the area's tube well water.

Locals said Ahidul Islam Batu, relative of the local lawmaker, continued sand extraction from the pond for the last couple of months. 

When polluted water of a too deep pond reaches the same level of underground water the tube wells of the surrounding area draw the polluted water and it is happening in Munshipara area, said Abdul Gafur, assistant engineer of upazila public health department.

Visiting the affected area on Tuesday noon, it was found that about 25 metre portion of the drain along with 3-4 houses has been damaged and locals tried to prevent falling of dirty drain water into the pond by putting sandbags and earth on the drain's broken part.

Several locals including Hyder Ali, 60, Murad, 35, and Wahab, 40, said dirty and stinky water coming out of their tube-wells poses health hazard.

Rokhsana Begum, 55, a housewife of the area, said her three children are suffering from intestine diseases and scabies, obviously due to drinking of water from the tube-wells.

"As we started agitation, the powerful sand extractor, who is also cousin of the local lawmaker, called police, bringing a false allegation against us. The law enforcers, however, returned when they found our demand logical," said Nur Hossain, a local.

Abu Musa Md Jongi, upazila nirbahi officer of Saidpur, said, "I received complaint from locals regarding the matter. As the pond belongs to the railway department I requested their authorities to take necessary action about it."

Monwar Hossen, sub assistant settlement officer of Bangladesh Railway in Saidpur, said his office never gave permission to anybody to extract sand from Jorapukur pond.

Contacted, local lawmaker Shawkat Chowdhury said, "My relative Ahidul Islam Batu extracted sand from the pond to increase its water reserve capacity. It is a part of my plan to make a tourist spot centring the pond with the consent of the railway minister."

Sand extractor Ahidul Islam Batu said he had stopped sand extraction a few days ago as water storage capacity of the pond increased tremendously.

Terming the allegation of causing water pollution against him as 'false', he said the drain collapsed due to poor construction work by the municipality.