Article From News From Bangladesh archives

CHAPAINAWABGANJ, Apr 24: Most tube wells in the town and its adjoining areas have been detected with high prevalence of arsenic, exposing some two lakh people to arsenic-linked diseases, reports UNB. Pourasabha Executive Engineer Sadiqul Islam told the UNB correspondent that 86 per cent tube wells in the Pourasabha areas were pumping out arsenic contaminated water beyond permissible limit.He said Public Health Engineering Department recently examined waters of 347 shallow and all deep tube wells of the area, and found high rate of arsenic prevalence in 299 shallow tube wells and in two deep tube wells. The tube wells have been sealed off. Some of the tube wells, according to officials, were pumping out arsenic contaminated water 10 to 50 times higher than tolerant level.The areas where high prevalence of arsenic were detected included Nakhrajpara, Belepukur, Huirapur, Santibagh,Shibtala, PTI area Fakirpara, Professorpara, Charjapratap and Court area in the pourasabha area.The areas also include Rajarampur, Upa Rajarampur, Durgapar,Chandlai, Swarupnagar, Nayanshuka, Memo Rajarampur, Haluabandha, East Mridhapara, Namo Sangkerbari, Natunpara, Ajaipur, Horipur, Tikarampur and Rebsicher. Meanwhile, severe drinking water crisis has gripped the areas as local people stopped using water from the tube wells.Municipality officials said seven deep tube wells, out of 16, are presently operating in the town, supplying 392 gallons of water to 10 per cent town dwellers.What worries the authorities more is that many shallow tube wells cannot pump out water due to quick fall of groundwater level.The DPHE Executive Engineer stressed the importance of setting up of a water treatment plant in the town immediately.He said fresh drinking water could be supplied to the town dwellers by treating water from the Mahananda River.( UNB)

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