18th year, 2nd issue, April to June 2014, Reg: No. 82/97

Quarterly Newsletter of the NGO Forum for Public Health

Zuena Aziz, Additional Secretary and Director General, LGD, MoLGRD&C was the Chief Guest of the Seminar. Presided over by Engr. Md. Nuruzzaman, Chief Engineer, DPHE, the seminar was also addressed, among others, by Gonzalo SERRANO, First Secretary, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh; Charlie Hrachya Sargsyan, Chief, WaSH Section, Unicef; and Mirva Tuulia Moilanen, Team

Celebration of World Water Day 2014Accentuating Water-EnergyThe World Water Day (WWD) celebration in 2014 across the country focused on upholding context and dynamics of water energy relationship and its prospects and challenges in Bangladesh harmonizing with this year's UN WWD theme 'Water and Energy'. The observance of the WWD is marked with a range of national and district level events including a National Seminar, Meet the Press Programme, field visit by journalists, symposia, art competition, cultural programme etc. The DPHE and development partners UNIC, European Union, SDC, UNICEF, The World Bank, Bangladesh WaSH Alliance and JICA jointly celebrated the Events with NGO Forum.

Speakers at the World Water day National Seminar on Saving Water is Saving Energy emphasized inter-ministerial coordination for efficient management of our scarce water and energy resources. They pointed on raising voice at the policy level for finding ways to save fresh water resources for sustainable socio-economic growth. It was revealed that economic loss as a result of our inaction regarding environmental degradation is over 4% of the GDP and each year this is increasing with the size of our GDP. Sector experts strongly urged to introduce 'public

World Water Day SeminarEquitable and Efficient Management of Water Emphasized

discloser of environmental information' as implemented in the developed countries. The national seminar was organized on 23 March 2014 at the DPHE auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka.

Climate change driven in great part by the unsustainable use of energy will exacerbate water stress and scarcity in many regions. Efforts to provide universal access to water and energy will be undermined if the current warming trend continues.

Water is at the core of sustainable development.This year's observance of World Water Day focuses on the links between water and energy.Both are critical for eradicating poverty.And they interact with each other in ways that can help-or hinder-our efforts to build stable

World Water Day MessageBan ki MoonUnited Nations Secretary General

The many strong links between water and energy demand coherent, integrated policies and innovative strategies. Water must be used and electricity must be generated and distributed equitably and efficiently, so all users get a fair share.These are the goals of the ongoing work of UN-Water and of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative. These issues are also crucially important elements in our discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.On World Water Day, let us pledge to develop the policies needed to ensure that sustainable water and energy are secured for the many and not just the few.

societies and lives of dignity for all.

In his keynote paper on Saving Water is Saving Energy – Saving Energy is Saving Water, Professor Dr. Mujibur Rahman stated that in last year i.e. FY 2012-13 total GDP was 1,037,987 crore taka (USD 133.0 billion). The economic loss (national) due to inaction addressing environmental degradation is 44,633 crore taka (USD 5.7 billion). The loss amounts at 7,364 crore taka (USD 5.7 billion) considering loss due to Dhaka’s river water

Water is wasted and poorly used by all sectors. In this connection it is necessary to reform our water govern-ance. The sectors, ministries and departments need to cooperate for sustainable solutions for managing water differently, assigning its strategic and vital value in alloca-tion and trade-offs. Synergy between water resources management and energy sector strategies need to be developed. We are heading towards post MDG era when the next set of goals would target to be sustainable. Unsustained development efforts would not contribute to our economic growth. We need to set sectoral targets accordingly, ensuring that targets are directed especially towards the poor. Sustainable water supply and sanitation services need to be ensured for an inclusive growth. Planned use of procedures and technology, existing and alternative for promoting water conservation should be included in the water governance.

– Zuena Aziz, Additional Secretary and Director General, LGD, MoLGRD&C

Engr. S.M. Ihtishamul Huq, in his key-note paper on Planning Towards Effective Public Water Supply Coverage recommended to engage Union Parishads in water point mapping at community level to effectively identify the priority for safe water coverage.

Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat said that it is high time to take up actions at the micro level of the country, at the hard-to-reach areas where a girl or woman still have to travel 3 to 4 km for collecting drinking water. S.M.A. Rashid also suggested exploring and promoting context-specific alternative water supply technologies in the hard-to-reach areas such as Aquifer Recharge, Pipeline Water Supply System, Saline & Arsenic Treatment Plants, etc. He further suggested exploring the possibilities of water and winding energy genera-tion in our hills and coastal areas.

DPHE Chief Engr. Md. Nuruzzaman urged to advocate the overall theme of “identifying best practices that can make a water- and energy-efficient Green Industry a reality”.

Task Leader, Water and Sanitation Program- South Asia, World Bank as the Special Guests.

Leading Water Expert Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University presided the working session of the Seminar. S.M.A. Rashid, Executive Direc-tor of NGO Forum for Public Health delivered the address of welcome. Two key-note papers were presented in the working session by Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, Civil Engineering Dept., BUET; and Engr. S.M. Ihtishamul Huq, Sector Professional and former Superintending Engineer, DPHE.

• Water coverage in high water table areas is 98%• Water coverage in low water table areas is 64%• Water coverage in arsenic-affected areas is 36%• Water coverage in hard-to-reach areas is 24%

We have a very good water policy but it has not been implemented properly. We are advocating and asking the government in every possible ways to make sure proper implementation of policies and strategies. Different ministries and government offices do not have coordination among each other, they work individually. It is enhancing problems. The responsible organization to deal with related issues must be specified. In inter-ministerial meetings different ministry talks regarding their own ministerial works, they do not talk regarding joint issues.– Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat, Vice-Chancellor, BRAC University

pollution. Dr. Rahman also upheld some significant information indicating inequalities of water coverage-within the country - National water coverage is 83% among which piped service is 10%. Urban water coverage is 85% among piped service is 31%. At rural level upholding 82% coverage, piped service is only 1%. Disparity also varies from one area to another:

Choices concerning the supply, distribution, price and use of water and energy impact one another. Energy is of primary importance for water management and developments. For a water utility, more than 30% of its operational cost is represented by the cost of energy needed to manage water.– Professor Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, Civil Engineering Dept., BUET

A Meet the Press programme on The Water-Energy Nexus in observance of the World Water Day 2014 was organized on 22 March, the World Water Day at the VIP Lounge, National Press Club, Dhaka. Presided over by Dr. A. Atiq Rahman, Executive Director, BCAS the Meet the Press was also addressed, among others, by Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed, VC, Stamford University and Former Professor of

Meet the Press on The Water-Energy Nexus

Collaboration with Mass MediaA journalists’ �eld visit programme was organized on 20 March 2014 in observance of the WWD ’14. A total of 39 print and electronic media professionals have visited parts of Narsingdi, Manikgaj and Tongi of Dhaka district in three groups. The reporters observed and explored issues such as river pollution from discharging of industrial wastewater leading to environmental degradation, obstacles & challenges in preserving freshwater resource, ground water extraction for irrigation, etc. A report published in the Daily Star by a visiting journalist is in the following -

Poisoning a river to deathHelemul Alam, Back from Narsingdi The Old Brahmaputra river, which once was the lifeline of Narsingdi, has now turned into a life-threatening menace for the people of the district. Excessive industrial pollution has made the waters of the river so toxic that even the underground water of the areas on its banks has become poisonous. As a result, people of the area are often suffering from different intestinal diseases.

There are 72 dyeing factories on the banks of the Old Brahmaputra river and these have been dumping untreated industrial waste into the river for the last 15 years, local people alleged. Most of these factories, located on the 12-kilometre stretch between Panchdona and Madhabdi, do not have any clearance certificate from the Department of

Toxic liquid from a dyeing factory flows into the river Turag in Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Environment (DoE), they claimed. Local people narrated to this correspondent how the river morphed into a deadly one. "When I was a child, I saw big boats plying on this river regularly and thousands of people, mainly traders from different parts of the country coming here using the river route. This river was a blessing for all of us here," said Abdul Bakir, Chairman of Shilmandi Union Parishad of Narsingdi Sadar upazila. "But now this river has become a curse. The water is discoloured and toxic," said the 43-year old UP chairman.

The toxic water of the river also slowly sips through the earth's layer into the groundwater. As a result, water extracted through tube wells for drinking is often stinky and undrinkable.

“The water pumped through 105-feet deep tube wells stinks. So, I had to sink pipe until 250 feet down and spend Tk 18,000 extra for setting up my tube-well to get clean water," said Mozammel Haque, a resident of Gonergaon. Nazmun Nahar Nargis, head teacher of Gonergaon Government Primary School, said the children of her school face health hazards as the water pumped through the school's

Waste is being dumped through sewage line into the river Buriganga in Badamtoli area of Old Dhaka. As World Water Day will be observed today across the globe, including Bangladesh, government agencies will be called upon again to take effective measures to control pollution of water bodies and water sources. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman stated that water must be used and electricity must be generated and distributed equitable and efficiently, so all users get a fair share. In Bangladesh, still 60% of the rural people are deprived of electricity. Electricity produced in our country is mostly (65%) comes from gas-based generation. FO, Diesel-based quick rental generation is second in position; 26% of the electricity comes from it. While, only 2% electricity is generated from hydropower. 6,000 gallons of water per mega watt hour is needed for gas-based electricity generation, whereas only wind-based energy generation uses only 2,000 gallons of water per mega watt hour. Coal burnt power plant uses the most water 17,000 gallons of water per mega watt hour. He also upheld the fact that, 75% of all industrial water withdrawals are used for energy production and distribution. In Bangladesh, severe pollution of freshwater resources is increasing the operational cost of water treatment. Due to severe pollution in

Civil Engineering Department of BUET; Emaduddin Ahmad, Team Leader, GWM & Feasibility Study of 148 Pourashava, DPHE-IWM; and Engr. Md. Nuruzzaman, Chief Engineer, DPHE. A key-note paper focusing on Understanding the Water-Energy Nexus was presented by Dr. Md. Mujibur Rahman, Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, BUET.

surface water, Bangladesh has to depend on groundwater which is more energy-efficient. As a consequence of poor water management both cost in production and distribution is increasing.

Some Facts Raised:Still 60% of the rural people are deprived of electricity.Demand for water is projected to increase by 50% within the next 40 years globally.Global findings show that theanticipated water requirements for energy production will increase by 11.2% by 2050.75% of all industrial water withdrawals are used for energy production and distribution.60,000 Km of BOD per day (industrial waste) is carried by the Buriganga from Tejgaon industrial area. Such severe pollution is increasing the operational cost of water treatment in Bangladesh.Bangladesh has to depend on ground water which is more energy-efficient.Inefficiency in water and energy management is Bangladesh’s biggest challenge.Inequalities in service coverage of water, sanitation and electricity among the urban and rural users of Bangladesh are a major challenge to sustainable growth.

Views expressed in WatSan are not necessarily those of NGO Forum for Public Health while

they are certainly those of authors.

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EditorS.M.A. RashidExecutive EditorJoseph HalderAssistant EditorJubaida AkhterUpoma Mahbub

Editorial Advisory BoardProfessor Dr. Ainun NishatDulal Chandra Biswas

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tube-well is stinky. "Nonetheless, around 350 students use it as they have no other choice," said Nargis, who too had suffered from bowel disorders when she first started drinking from the tube well four years back.

The pollution is so high that the level of dissolved oxygen in the waters of the Old Brahmaputra remains almost zero during the dry season, making it impossible for fish and other aquatic species to survive. "The river used to be the main source of livelihood for us. I would earn around Tk 80,000 annually by fishing in the river which is impossible now," said Siraj Miyan, another resident of the area. The toxicity of water is also severely affecting farming. Hazi Said Uddin of Gonergaon village said compared to what he used to get 15 years back, the Irri harvest from his 420-decimal lands has come down to one-third in the recent years due to the toxicity both in the river-water and the groundwater. "Besides, I no longer cultivate Aman paddy as it cannot tolerate the toxicity. As a result, I lose 15 maunds of paddy each season," he added.

During a visit to the banks of the Old Brahmaputra on Thursday, this reporter found the dyeing factories discharging untreated waste into the river. Blaming the situation on the inaction of the DoE, the chairman of Shilmandi Union Parishad alleged that there is a nexus between the DoE officials and the factory owners. When contacted, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, director of DoE, rejected the allegation. "We have fined a number of dyeing factories around Tk 4 crore [for polluting waters] in the last one year. Twelve factories were fined Tk 1 crore in the last month alone," Ataur told The Daily Star. He said though most of the factories have effluent treatment plants they hardly use those."We fail to monitor the factories properly as we have only seven officials in two districts -- Narsingdi and Kishoreganj -- for the job," he said.

Published: Saturday, March 22, 2014, The Daily Star centering the World Water Day ’14

A Few of the Awarded Drawings from the World Water Day 2014 Art Competitions

Cultural Event at Rabindra Sharobar, Dhanmondi Dhaka Celebrating World Water Day 2014

World Water Day ’14 Observed in 14 Districts With a call for proper management of water power as the key to sustainable development, 14 WWD Symposia and colorful rallies were organized in 14 districts including divisional cities in the context of local perspective. Relevant government officials including DCs, Civil Surgeons, Executive Engineers, DPHE representatives, academics, journal-ists, PNGO officials, and local elites participated in the Events. Art competitions celebrating the WWD ’14 were organ-ized at schools in these districts.