Acute crisis of drinking water in Bandarban

Bandarban's hilly villages are experiencing an acute crisis of fresh drinking water as the water sources in the hills are drying up due to deforestation, stone quarrying, and unplanned jhum cultivation. It takes approximately one-and-half-an-hour to two hours for the residents to fetch only a water pitcher. Many families living in the mountains are being forced to buy drinking water and do other household chores with the purchased water. Water from Falls has been selling locally for 2–5 Tk. 

Reng Rowang Mro, a businessman in the Chimbuk area, said, "Those who have shops in the small markets around the Bandarban-Thanchi road are using purchased water. But it is not possible for those living in the neighborhood."

Local youths Lulaing and Santhyam said that during the dry season, the villagers face water shortages. To address this, they hire a jeep to collect water from distant springs, selling it while working in fruit gardens. It provides extra money and also meets the demand for water for makeshift shops along the Bandarban-Chimbuk-Thanchi road."

Tong (tiny) shops are the sole source of entertainment, chat, and tea breaks for the hilly people. A 1000-liter drum costs TK1000 and a 1500-liter drum TK1500, with occasional price variations, they added.

Riong Mru, a shopkeeper in Lambaitong, said, "Local youths transport water in jeeps from distant sources. Shopkeepers purchase 1500-liter drum water for TK1,500 to meet the needs of small tong shops along the road. Despite the increased cost, shopkeepers see no alternative."

Based on an inquiry, there are more than 35 hilly villages or neighborhoods, including Korang Para, Krapung Para, Sita Para, Bagan Para, Mrlong Para, Getsimony Para, and Vasantpara, between Bandarban Sadar and Thanchi Upazila. About five hundred different hill communities live in these villages or neighborhoods.

A total of 75 families in the village are collecting water that falls little by little in a hole at the end of the stream, which is far down the hill.

Residents say that their village or neighborhood is on top of the hill. There is a small waterfall that can be seen about 800–1500 feet down from the neighborhood. Though there is no water in the third now, they are depending on it for their livelihood. Due to the lack of big trees and the sufficient amount of stones in the mountains, the small Jhiris are gradually drying up during the dry season.

He also said, "The lives of mountain people have become very difficult. The acute water crisis has made their lives even more miserable."

Residents Ling Kiam and Chinghlao noted that in the dry season, freshwater scarcity in the mountains becomes severe, surpassing even food shortages.

Women descend 800–1500 feet daily to collect water for drinking, cooking, and household chores. Bathing occurs sparingly, with water collected every two to four days.

Meanwhile, due to the shortage of clean water in Bandarban, some local media workers are distributing water in several villages on the Thanchi road with the help of businessmen from the district headquarters and various organizations.

Journalist Bating Marma, one of the initiators of clean water distribution, said, "During the dry season, villagers face water shortages. Learning this during my professional work there, I've been distributing clean water in the Chimbuk-Nilgiri area for humanitarian reasons. Initially, two or three of us started the distribution work, later receiving cooperation from the District Red Crescent and Public Health Engineering Office, providing 100 water jars of 5 liters."

Galenga Union's UP member Rengwai Mru said, "The women travel far to collect water from Jhiris below the hills. Even then, they can only fetch two pitchers in two hours. The water crisis worsens daily, making hill communities' lives increasingly difficult during the dry season."

Confirming the issue Anupam Dey, Executive Engineer of Bandarban Public Health Engineering Directorate, said, "I have learned about water distribution in Chimbuk Hills to address the crisis. On behalf of the District Public Health Engineering Office, I provided 100 jars of 10 liters as part of their collaborative efforts."

"Two ADB-funded projects are underway in Bandarban Sadar and Lama Municipalities to address the drinking water crisis. Additionally, the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs has recommended two more projects for approval. Approval of these projects will alleviate the drinking water crisis in Bandarban Hill district," He added.