Title: Finally, With The Help Of CSG’s, The People Of Batiaghata Upazila Were Able To Identify Arsenic-Free Tubewells.

Project: Excluded People’s Rights in Bangladesh (EPR)

Location: Vandarkot and Gangarampur Union, Batiaghata Upazila, Khulna.

Story Details

Vandarkot and Gangarampur unions are the two most populous unions in Batiaghata upazila. The Kazibachha River flows by these two unions. Since the water of this river is saline at one time of the year, most of the water source in these two unions is salty. Moreover, if a tube-well is installed on the south side of these two unions, good drinking water will not rise. In many cases the water is salty or contains arsenic beyond drinking water level. Many people in these two unions rent vans/boats from a distance to meet the demand for drinking water which is very expensive and difficult for them anyway.

Many of the tube-wells in these two unions have arsenic-laden water; so many ignorant people in the village use this arsenic-laden water without even knowing the consequences. As a result, they are suffering from various diseases. Meanwhile, CSG members of Bhandarkot Union are conducting CSC on water and during the FGD for water CSC on 22/09/2021, information came up that arsenic test of tube-well water in this area has not been done in last 5-6 years. In the same way, social audit is done on water in Gangarampur Union. Following this, FGD was done. It shows that arsenic testing of tube-well water has not been done in this area in 5-6 years. During the exchange of views with the local authorities of CSC (Vanderkot) on 28/09/21 and (Gangarampur) on 28/09/21 the issue of arsenic testing of tube-wells came up and it was planned that arsenic testing would be planned with the public health engineer. On 28/09/21 he held an opinion meeting / plan with the CSG members on the water problem of Bhandarkot and Gangarampur Union.

During this planning, the issue of arsenic testing of water came up among various topics. At the time of planning, the higher authorities planned to conduct arsenic testing of tube well water in the entire upazila by October, November 2021. According to the plan, arsenic testing was started in October and November 2021 in 6 unions of Batiaghata upazila. If arsenic is detected in a tube-well during arsenic testing, it will be painted red and if arsenic is not detected, it will be painted green.

Note: There are many CSG members are directly involved in this arsenic test.