Govt to install 2 lakh rainwater harvesting units in 10 districts

The government is installing over 2 lakh rainwater harvesting units in Gopalganj and nine coastal districts to mitigate water crisis.

Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) has undertaken the project titled ‘Safe Water Supply in Coastal area through Preserving Rain Water’ at the cost of Tk 962 crore.

Each harvesting unit will cost Tk 52,000, a senior official of the Planning Commission told The Business Post.

According to the project, 2,06,872 units will be installed at the union level. The project will be implemented in 44 upazilas under the coastal districts of Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakhathi, Patuakhali, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar; and Goplaganj.

The government will fund the project, which is expected to be implemented in the next three years. Under the project, rainwater will be collected in containers for daily use.

The Project Evaluation Committee of the Planning Commission held a meeting on the project. The PEC has asked the implementing body to add the expenditure details with an explanation to the development project proposal and add the feasibility study report.

Planning Commission’s Physical Infrastructure Division member Md Mamun Al Rashid said the project is vital for the coastal area where it will provide safe water to the people.

Residents of the coastal areas suffer from various health problems due to salinity and arsenic problems.

According to the project proposal, the southern parts of coastal areas suffered massive damage during cyclones Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009. Salinity spread to the surface water and groundwater.

The acceptable level of salinity in drinking water in the country is 500 ppm. However, in some coastal areas, the maximum level is almost three times higher.