The Daily Star February 17, 2003 


      963 arsenicosis detected in 7 upazilas of Satkhira



      Abu Ahmed, Satkhira


      Nine hundred sixty three arsenicosis were detected in Satkhira.
      People in seven upazilas of Satkhira district are drinking arsenic 
      contaminated water as there is no alternative source of drinking water. A 
      total of 16,519 families in the upazilas use arsenic contaminated water.
      Anjuman Ara, 42, a housewife at Harina in Keragachhi union of Kalaroa 
      upazila said to The Daily Star that the tubewells of their houses was 
      marked red by the workers of a non-governmental organisation (NGO). They 
      advised them not to use arsenic contaminated water of the tubewells for 
      the purpose of drinking and cooking. She further said that the nearest 
      source of safe water was about 800 yards away from their house. "But it is 
      not possible for us to fetch water from such a distant source" Anjuman Ara 
      said. "So they often use arsenic contaminated water from the red marked 
      tubewells," she added.
      At Harina, 67 out of 70 tubewells were arsenic contaminated.
      The NGO Forum for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation conducted a survey 
      through its partner NGOs from January to October last year. The survey was 
      made in 26 unions of Kalaroa, Tala, Debhata, Kaligonj, Shyamnagar, 
      Assassumi and Sadar upazila. Seven hundred eighty five villages in the 
      area were covered by the survey.
      Arsenic was detected in excessive amount in water in 485 villages.
      According to survey in 196 villages water of more than 50 per cent of 
      tubewells contains excessive arsenic.
      Hundred per cent tubewells were found to contain excessive arsenic in 
      Ilishipur village in Kalaroa upazila.
      In 94 villages 81 to 99 per cent tubewells and 61 to 80 per cent tubewells 
      in 108 villages were found to have arsenic of more than the accessible 
      range.
      While visiting some villages in Kalaroa, Tala, Shyamnagar and Sadar 
      upazilas of the district last month, a cross section of people including 
      females and children were informed of arsenic problem. They came to know 
      about it through NGO, radio, television and newspapers.
      "They came and advises us not to use arsenic contaminated water, but do 
      not arrange arsenic-free water for us," said Amena Khatun, a housewife of 
      village Agardari in Sadar upazila to The Daily Star and added, " we cannot 
      but to take risk of our lives by drinking arsenic contaminated water even 
      after knowing its fatal consequence."