Govt Plans 70% Surface Water Coverage by 2030: Tazul

The government has a plan of providing 70 percent water coverage through surface water by 2030 aiming to mitigate the safe drinking water crisis for the people, reports BSS.

Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said this while replying to a supplement query made by BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3 at the Jatiya Sangsad in Dhaka on Monday.

At present, the country has almost 98 percent water coverage which mostly depends on groundwater, said the minister, adding that “We have planned 70 percent water coverage through the surface water by a stipulated time frame of 2030.”

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

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 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, Tazul said, "In Bangkok, 15 per cent 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."