Tk 9.60 cr arsenic-free water supply project in 12 districts

The Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra with the initiative of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has been implementing the project styled "Socio-economic and Improvement of Quality of Life by Supplying Arsenic-free Water."

The main objectives are to provide micro-credit in the income generating activities by imparting intensive professional training.

It will also enhance the per capita water consumption from 10 litres to 100 litres per day. The micro-credit is returnable. The credit is given to run development schemes at a low cost and to change the mentality of depending on others.

Under the project, 24 deep tube-wells, two each in 12 districts will be installed at a cost of 4.52 crore taka. Installation of deep tube-wells in seven districts have already been completed. Necessary infrastructure are also being installed for treatment of water being extracted from underground to ensure iron and arsenicfree water.

Besides providing safe-drinking water to 36,000 people through pipeline, 2,400 acres of cropland would also be brought under irrigation.

Around 2,400 beneficiaries will be given vocational training on multiple purposes like plumbing and electrical, water management in the farm level, dairy, poultry, fish culture, maize and potato cultivation, development of horticulture nursery and food processing.

Trained persons would be provided with micro finance to make them self-reliant through income generating activities. An amount of 2.16 crore taka has been earmarked for the purpose.

Project Director Abdul Matin told BSS that the low-cost deep tube-wells developed by RDA through an action research programme would be used as a dependable technology for round-the- year multipurpose uses with low investment.

'The project will make these people capable to pay the installation cost of the deep tube-wells within 10 years period and ultimately the beneficiaries will be the owners of the tube-wells," he hoped.

It would also play a vital role in bringing ecological balance through resisting misuse of ground water and ensure multiple use of water, he added.

He also said on its successful implementation, the project would contribute a lot in improving the socio-economic condition and improving the standard of life of rural people by creating more employment opportunities. Moreover, rural people will also be brought under safe water supply programme through pipeline like in the urban areas.

The programme okayed by the World Bank would be expanded to many more districts, Matin added.