Dhaka, Mar 28 (V7N) -Shortages in water supplied by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority are nothing new. Despite its excuses for the shortage, it is well known that "water wastage" is one of the primary causes.
This wastage occurs due to technical faults, illegal connections, excessive and unnecessary water usage, keeping taps running, and negligence from Wasa.


However, this time, Wasa's negligence is particularly noticeable.

For the past week, a leaking Wasa pipeline near Bahadur Shah Park in Puran Dhaka has been continuously gushing water, wasting thousands of litres daily.

Locals report that despite informing Wasa about the leak, no action has been taken, and no official has even visited the site.

An on-site inspection on Wednesday revealed that in Ward 42 (in front of Bahadur Shah Park), under the jurisdiction of Dhaka South City Corporation, drinking water supplied by Wasa was continuously leaking from a damaged pipeline. The leaked water was flowing into a nearby drain through an open manhole.


Tea vendor Rifatul Islam said the Wasa water pipe had been leaking for a week after bursting during road excavation, but no repairs had been made despite a complaint.

Calling the wastage unfortunate, Mosharraf Hossain, a resident of Kaltabazar, said thousands of litres of water were being wasted due to the negligence of authorities, but ultimately, the general public had to bear the consequences.

Taimur Alam, a student of Kabi Nazrul Government College, expressed his frustration over the continuous leakage, adding that the city corporation and Wasa should always work in coordination.

“Due to their negligence, ordinary people suffer. If we calculate how much water has been wasted due to this leakage, it would be in the hundreds of thousands of litres. Yet, the authorities remain indifferent."

Meanwhile, Jagannath University student Sabbir Rahman complained that government projects and public resources were always treated with negligence.

“They delay solutions indefinitely – today, tomorrow, next week – until months pass. I believe it is time to take strict action against those who neglect their responsibilities," he added.

A Dhaka Wasa MODS Zone 1 official, however, said the agency had received no complaint about the issue, highlighting its commitment to resolving customer problems promptly.

Placing the blame on the city corporation, Anwar Hossain, the executive engineer of Dhaka Wasa MODS Zone 1, said: "When the city corporation excavates roads using excavators, various utility lines, including water, gas and telephone lines, get damaged.


“However, they do not inform us about these damages and instead bury the broken pipelines under the soil. Later, when water leaks from these places, Wasa gets blamed.

"The city corporation acts like they are the rulers and we are their subjects. Their actions cause water wastage regularly. A similar issue happened recently, which we later resolved. Now that we are aware of this new case, we will resolve it as soon as possible."

 

END/MSS/AJ