SANGSAD BHABAN, Jan 29, 2018 (BSS) – Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossen today said the safe drinking water coverage in the rural area increased to 88 per cent from the earlier 82 per cent.
“In 2009, every 99 rural people used a government safe drinking water source while now every 87 people are using a government safe drinking water source,” said the minister while responding to a query placed by treasury bench lawmaker M Mamunur Rashid Kiron of Noakhali-3 at the House.
The government is working relentlessly for ensuring hundred per cent pure drinking water for the rural people, he said.
For development of rural water supply, the present government has started some 2,63,448 arsenic free safe drinking water source and supply of safe drinking water to 110 villages through the pipeline under different projects, he added.
Although the rural water supply was entirely depending on underground water source and the safe drinking water supply was hampered as in early 90’s arsenic pollution was detected in different regions in the country, the minister pointed out.
Meanwhile, the government has taken a project on “Water Conservation and Re-excavation of ponds, lake and water bodies” with a cost of Taka 375 crore.
A total of 809 ponds will be re-excavated across the country under the project.
In addition to this, 143 ponds will be re-excavated and 200 new ponds will also be excavated under “Water Supply in the Rural areas” project.
“The surface safe drinking water supply would be possible to all the districts in the country through water pond sand filter system by excavating these ponds,” the minister told the house.
Even the surface water system will also help to recharge the ground water level through accessing water from ground as ground water level has already declined by 3 to 10 meters, he added.