Dhaka:The government has launched a series of initiatives aimed at addressing the country's growing groundwater crisis by reducing reliance on groundwater and promoting the use of rainwater and surface water from rivers and water bodies. State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam announced these measures today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government is implementing projects to mitigate the risk of declining groundwater levels in regions such as Barind, increase rainwater storage in coastal areas, and expand the supply of treated river water in urban localities. These efforts are in response to urgent public importance raised by lawmaker Nilufar Chowdhury Moni.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a TK 7,500 crore project under the Department of Public Health and Engineering. This project aims to reduce pressure on groundwater by ensuring safe water supply and decreasing groundwater dependence for irrigation in the Barind region. The project will focus on preserving canals and water reservoirs and introducing water supply systems via underground pipelines, benefiting people in the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.
The state minister highlighted that initiatives are underway to treat river water and supply it to various cities, reducing groundwater extraction. Currently, 215,372 rainwater harvesting systems are being installed in coastal districts, with 200,367 already completed. Additionally, the government aims to meet over 70 percent of Dhaka's total water demand from surface water sources by 2035, as part of the Dhaka WASA Water Master Plan.
In Chattogram, about 95 percent of the city's daily water supply is sourced from treated water from the Karnaphuli and Halda rivers. In Khulna, the use of deep tube-wells has declined significantly due to the introduction of treated water from the Madhumati River. The government is also working on developing saline-resistant crop seeds and distributing them to farmers to reduce agricultural water consumption.
Furthermore, the government is taking steps to clean up five rivers surrounding Dhaka and re-excavate and renovate 55 canals under the Dhaka North and South City Corporations. A 10-ministry committee has been established to coordinate these efforts, which include preventing industrial wastewater from entering rivers and installing effluent and sewage treatment plants in industrial areas.
Projects have also been initiated to enhance the beauty of lakes such as Hatirjheel, Dhanmondi, Baridhara, and Banani and to prevent water pollution. A TK 75 crore project has been approved by the Finance Ministry to develop Dhanmondi Lake, and its implementation is underway.