According to rules, WASA cannot provide legal water connection to those who do not own land or buildings in Dhaka. Due to this rule, the slum dwellers of Dhaka were suffering in various ways due to the lack of fresh water. However, after bypassing this rule and providing water connection to the slums, the quality of life of the residents has changed.
According to Dhaka Wasa sources, local influencers were stealing Wasa water by syndicate and selling it at a high price due to lack of opportunity to connect legally. To solve this problem, WASA started supplying water to the slums from 2013 with the cooperation of some private organizations by opening a branch called Low Income Community (LIC). So far more than 9 thousand connections have been given under this branch. Six to eight families get water from each connection.
WASA commercial manager Uttam Kumar Roy said that the areas where these low-income people are staying in the capital are owned by government organizations or institutions. We cannot provide water lines in their place. For this reason, we try to give them water first through a channel with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on water and sanitation.
Uttam Kumar said about the initial process of providing water to the slums, then we took the help of NGOs, UNICEF provided financial support. First I tried to connect directly. Later I saw that this method does not fit. Later I established community based organizations and connected them with leadership. They lead and alongside the NGO people, they work. And we support the government. As a result, the GO-NGO-CBO model is basically running through.
A tour of Karail slums in the capital showed cluster-wise panir connections in different blocks of the slums where six to eight families can draw water from each connection. In this way, they do not have to stand in long queues for water or face any kind of suffering.
Talking to the residents, it is known that earlier the Mastans of the Mohalla used to bring water from the stolen line and sell it. At that time, each jug of water had to be bought for five rupees. There used to be huge queues to buy water. Hours passed there. Mothers with small children had to face various dangers. There have also been cases of sexual harassment for this water.u098fu09b8u09ac u09acu09b8u09cdu09a4u09bfu09a4u09c7 u0986u0997u09c7 u09aau09beu09a8u09bfu09b0 u099cu09a8u09cdu09af u09aau09cdu09b0 u09beu09df u09aau09cdu09b0u09a4u09bfu09a6u09bfu09a8u0987 u09aeu09beu09b0u09beu09aeu09beu09b0u09bf u09b2u09c7u0997u0 9c7 u09afu09c7 u09a4u09cb“}”>
Mousumi Akhter, a resident of Karail Basti’s B-Block, said that there used to be daily fights for water. Water had to be brought in pitchers and stored in drums. There were also times when cooking for water, going to the bathroom would stop. Now the water line is in front of my house. Life then and life now seem completely different.
Talking to CBO leaders and NGOs working in the slums, it is said that after the connection of clean water, various diseases started to decrease in the slum area. At one time cholera hospitals were filled with slum patients due to polluted water. Beds in the open areas of the slums also had to be treated. Due to rotten water, dirty water, leakage of line and dirty water, infection was caused by these water.
Director (WASH) of non-governmental organization Dustha Health Center (DSK). Abdul Hakim told Bangla Tribune that when the people of these settlements got legal water, their water-borne diseases decreased. Then the income of these families increased. On inquiry, it was found that the woman who used to stand here for several hours with a pitcher, was able to work in a house during this time due to the water near the house. Can work in garments. Many children of the settlement are studying in public and private universities. Behind all these but this water line has a role.
AKM Shahid Uddin, Deputy Managing Director (Operation and Maintenance) of Dhaka WASA, said that after a few years of providing water connection to the slum areas, some NGOs are coming and they want to provide gas and electricity. They are saying how is it possible that Wasa is giving water. It is illegal. Again, they are getting the bill properly, the money is being collected, there is no arrears. In this same model, the people of the settlement have now got electricity and gas. As a result, their quality of life has been greatly improved.
