Water crisis in Mirsharai: Locals demand closure of deep tube well in BSRM factory

Residents of Chattogram's Mirsharai upazila formed a human chain at the main gate of Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Ltd (BSRM) factory today demanding stoppage of groundwater extraction with deep tube wells by the factory as it is causing water crisis in the region.

Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, lawmaker from Chattogram-1, was present as the chief guest during the hour-long programme in Sonapahar area starting from 10am.

Traffic movement remained suspended on Dhaka-Chattogram highway for half an hour at that time, reports our Chattogram staff correspondent.   

Mosharraf Hossain said residents of eight unions of the upazila are not getting water as the BSRM factory have been extracting groundwater for the last 10 years by installing 10 to 12 deep tube wells with more capacity.

He said "BSRM had promised locals that they would fetch water from the nearby Feni river through a pipeline but they have cheated people."

"Hon'ble Prime Minister has set up 50,000 acres of Bangabandhu Industrial City to save agricultural land of the area. BSRM should relocate the factory from this agricultural and populated area to Bangabandhu Industrial City within the next one year," the lawmaker added.

Bariarhat Municipality Mayor Rezaul Karim Khokon, also the convener of the human chain, said "If the deep tube well is not closed, we will force the administration to stop all activities of BSRM factory. We will ensure that new raw materials do not enter the factory if they stop groundwater extraction."

In this regard, Tapan Sengupta, deputy managing director of BSRM Group, told The Daily Star that there are at least 100 other small and large factories, including BSRM, in the area. All the factories have also been withdrawing water by tube wells. Some people are blaming only BSRM for their personal motives.

He said it is not true that local people are not getting water due to groundwater extraction by factory's tube wells. Actually, people of some areas face water crisis but not everywhere. The water level has also decreased due to shortage of rain this year," the DMD added.