70% surface water coverage by 2030: Tajul

The government has a plan 70 per cent water coverage through surface water by 2030 aiming to mitigate safe drinking water crisis for the people.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister M Tajul Islam said this while replying to a supplement query made by BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3 at the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday afternoon.

At present, the country has almost 98 percent water coverage which mostly depending on ground water, said the minister, adding that “we have plan 70 percent water coverage through the surface water by stipulated timeframe of 2030.”

In context of the global situation, the LGRD minister said the water supply of Bangladesh is remaining in more better situation.

Bangladesh has made significant progress regarding universal access to improved water sources, with more than 97 per cent of the population having access in 2013, he told the parliament.

The minister said preliminary work has been started on the National Water Grid Line to meet the water demand of the country.

Regarding the canals in the city, the minister said, "In Bangkok, 15% of people are using their canals, but we are not able to do so despite having so many canals in Dhaka. The canals are losing their existence due to illegal occupation and pollution."

Unprecedented success has been achieved in the water supply, he said.