How to fight water crisis in Bangladesh?

Nature creates and regulates everything of the universe. In the course of time, nature itself undergoes a change by its own law. This change, though has merits and demerits, is essential for the cosmos. The destruction of one side of a river ensures new habitation on other side. In the same way, any change in nature is replaced by new creations. Accordingly, people, animals and plants get adapted with this change. But the tragedy arises when man disturbs nature; it can make life difficult, occasionally, too difficult. The water crisis in Bangladesh is a sheer example of that.

Bangladesh, in spite of being a land of rivers, in recent years, has been facing a serious crisis of water. For many reasons, the rivers have lost their free flow and navigability hampering the total irrigation system of the country. Moreover, owing to rapid siltation, the rivers are now facing a danger of premature death.

During summer and winter, the pumping of water for the purpose of irrigation makes the river almost dry. This leads shortage of water for drinking, cooking and other household works. The problems it causes for the people living in slums in urban areas are more alarming. They are to fetch water from distant places standing in a queue for hours together. Very often they are compelled to drink polluted water. The situation of rural people is not pleasant either as they live on drinking the arsenic contaminated water.

The crisis of water in a riverine country like Bangladesh is most unfortunate. The construction of barrage and bridges across the rivers are mainly responsible for this tragedy. In order to get rid of the problem the following measures may be taken:

A few recommended measures to fight water crisis in Bangladesh

1. Dredging rivers periodically to ensure free flow of water.

2. Excavating the marshlands and channels throughout the country to reserve rain water.

3. Discouraging constructional work and land-ploughing by the side of the rivers.

4. Installing water treatment plants (in urban areas) and deep tube wells (in rural areas) in appropriate places.

5. Ensuring easy availability of water for the poor people living in slums in urban areas as well as people living in rural Bangladesh.

6. Introduce water purifying system for contamination-free water and safe drinking water.

7. Make water purifying system affordable enough for poor people and make it available throughout the country.

Safe water is a basic need of people. The government is responsible for ensuring safe water for all people. It is also responsible for mitigating water crisis. Thus government should take appropriate steps to address this problem. Non government organizations should also get into action in achieving a solution to this.

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