GAIBANDHA, Feb 2: An initiative has been taken to supply safe water from ponds and ditches to the people to reduce pressure on underground water.
The Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) would implement the work under 'Water Preservation and Safe Water Supply' project while the Bangladesh Government would provide the fund, office sources said.
Under the project, primarily seven ponds owned by Zila Parishad had been selected at Gobindaganj Upazila of the district, and the ponds would be re-excavated in this connection, sources said. After re-excavating the water sources, water would be reserved, PSF (ponds sand filter) technology would be applied, and water taps would be set up there so that the nearby people can collect the water.
Earlier, the preserved water of the ponds would be purified for drink through using chemicals, said an official of DPHE.
Executive Engineer of DPHE here M. Aminul Islam Chowdhury disclosed the matter in a monthly meeting of District Development Coordination Committee held at the conference room of District Collectorate Building recently with Deputy Commissioner Gautam Chandra Pal in the chair.
Talking to the correspondent, DPHE Executive Engineer M. Aminul Islam Chowdhury said, "We have already got approval for re-excavating seven ponds out of 29 owned by ZP. In this connection, tender notices have been published in the national dailies, and after completing the official formalities, the development works of the project will start." In reply to a query, Chowdhury said official process was going on to publish the tender notices in national dailies to invite the contractors to re-excavate the rest 22 ponds.
Superintending Engineer of DPHE (Rangpur circle) M. Bahar Uddin Mridha said ZP chairman would supervise the works as chairperson and executive engineer of DPHE as member secretary.
Project Director M. Shamsul Alam said the initiative had been adopted to inspire the people in using the surface water in lieu of underground water to check the threat on environment.
Similar activities would be done in other parts of the country under the project, and in this connection he sought whole hearted cooperation of all.
