Gobindganj/Gaibandha/Representative/

During the current dry season, hundreds of tubewells in Gobindganj of Gaibandha are not getting water for several days due to the drop in the ground water level. There is very little water rising in thousands of tube wells. The residents of the local area are in trouble.

Locals said that about 80 percent of the rivers here have dried up. Besides, no rules are being followed in the use of underground water. The water table has gone down due to the withdrawal of ground water especially for the irrigation of Eri paddy. It is under pressure in shallow wells. After searching, it is known that Chakarhimapur, Khamarpara, Sapmara, Sahebganj, Meri and Tarafkamal of Sapmara Union of the upazila; Mahmud Bagh, Bagda, Bagda Kalni and Beltala of Katabari Union; Drinking water shortage has occurred in various places of Kamdia, Rajahar, Shakhahar Union of Gumaniganj Union along with Tarfmanu, Kaiyaganj, Pargaira, Gumaniganj, Phulpukaria. Before setting up tubewells in these villages, the water level was 20-30 feet below the ground. But now the water level is not even below 40-50 feet.

Santosh Mohant, a resident of Sahebganj village in the upazila, said that despite having a house next to the Karatoya river, I am not getting water from the tubewell. Even if you bathe in the river, you have to go to another house for food and water. I cannot install submersible pump due to lack of capacity. Khairul Islam, a resident of Sapamara village, said that water was not available from the level where tubewells were installed earlier. Most of my neighbors’ families are in water crisis.

In this regard, Deputy Assistant Engineer Saha Ali of Public Health Engineering Department told CNBangladesh that the water level has dropped more this year compared to previous years. Due to this now tubewells have to be installed deeper than the normal distance.