Hill people get safe water supply through pipeline

Situated 25 kilometers away from Moulvibazar's Srimangal upazila sadar, Alubari is a remote hilly area adjacent to Harinchara tea garden. A total of 67 families are living in this hill which is about 120 feet high from the ground level. Livelihood of these poor people comes from the works as labourers at the tea garden. 

Once there had been no arrangement of safe drinking water in this hillock, let alone modern amenities of the living. People collected water for their household use from a fountain which is half a kilometer away. There was only one tube-well on the slopes of the hill. All household works, including cooking, were done with the dirty water of the fountain. Diseases like diarrhea and typhoid were common phenomenon for more than 300 people of Alubari. Now, that situation is no longer there. The lack of safe water of the Alubari tea garden workers has been gone, the hardship of the women also moved out. 

The 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project of a non-government organization -- Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) -- has made this change in the lives of the underprivileged tea workers of remote hilly area. Under the purview of the project, a deep tube-well and water tank with 10 thousand liters of capacity was set up. The submersible pump brings water directly into the reserve tank. From there, water is supplied to the 67 families through pipeline. There is a tap station for 5 to 7 families to collect water. Apart from this, more than 50 tube-wells have been installed in the comparatively low level areas of Alubari. A concrete-made structure has been built nearby for taking bath. 

Not only for Alubari Tila arrangements of safe water have been facilitated but also for the people of nearby Meknichara, Tiprachara and Majdihi hilly areas. Through which, the inhabitants of these hills can collect water easily and in a short time. 

Bijoy Hazra, president of Alubari Tea Valley, said tea workers built settlements in the remote hilly area many years ago depending on water of the fountain. Water level falls at one time due to the effects of climate change, global warming and cutting down trees. After the drying of the fountain, the lives of the tea workers of the hill became miserable. Crisis of safe drinking water also became severe. 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project has freed the tea workers from the dilemmas and suffering.

Women of Alubari suffered most as they used to collect water everyday walking the long hilly way. For this, they would have become physically weak alongside wasting a lot of time. Adolescents also had to suffer everyday as well as the adults. Now, daily toiling of at least some women and adolescents have been reduced having the arrangements of safe water in the hill. 

Anjali Mankin, a resident of Alubari, said, "Two and a half years ago, we were forced to walk through the mountain grooves with pitcher filled of water. That trouble is no longer here and life has become easy." Moreover, Suchitra Chamugong gave a different information that the women of Alubari offered worship with joy on the day when water supply through the pipeline started. 

It was not an easy task to arrange water supply in the remote area. Water levels in hilly areas are not available for geographical reasons. Besides, there was no information about the source of underground water which is very essential for setting up deep tube-well. It has been known after searching that the water level in the area has not been surveyed by the government earlier, although these types of survey are common across the country. So, desired water level, from where it is possible to lift water as per the need, was found after several attempts as there was no information about the area-based water level. The challenge has successfully been overcome for the tireless attempts of the engineers involved with digging the deep tube-well. 

Mrinal Kranti Das, an engineer of the project, said the work has become very difficult at a time. Fragile and rocky soil caused five attempts to get frustrated. Pipe was not being installed into the underground water in any way. At last underground water level was found in the depth of five hundred feet at the sixth attempt.  Md. Ibrahim Aman, another engineer of the project, said "We did not give up though it seemed very difficult but tried again and again with the help of the locals." 

IDEA launched the project in Srimangal in October, 2016. Project manager Pankaj Ghosh Dastidar said 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project was a challenge to improve the living standards of the tea workers of remote hilly areas who are deprived of modern living and lead very risky lives. It has been made successful for the united efforts. Credit goes to the garden panchayat and the local people. 

According to Pankaj Ghosh, regular maintenance and surveillance are required to keep the safe water supply uninterrupted. A 15-member managing committee has been formed in this regard. A fund was also made taking Tk 10 as contribution per month from the each beneficiary family. The fund money has been kept in their own bank account and it is being spent for maintenance and management of the deep tube-well. 

Donor organization WaterAid Bangladesh is giving financial and technical support to the IDEA for the implementation of 'WASH for Tea Pickers' project. Imamur Rahman, program manager of the organization, said, "As per the goals and objectives of WaterAid Bangladesh, through this project we are trying to supply safe water and arrange hygienic sanitation facilities for the underprivileged tea workers living in the remote hilly areas. We also want to improve their quality of life by raising their awareness of healthcare. Besides, we are working to improve the water and sanitation related ability of the local government and the garden authorities side by side ensuring their accountability." 

Prem Sagar Hazra, vice chairman of Srimangal Upazila Parishad, said the project of safe water supply for the tea workers is very hopeful and a source of light for this underprivileged population. Getting safe water and sanitation facilities are among the civil rights. So, these types of activities need to be expanded in future.