Analysis of allocation of hand pump technology for procurement as a safe drinking water source installed by DPHE

Abstract

The study area contain two marginal Union of Daulatpur Upazilla under Kushtia District of south-western part of Bangladesh. This research work tries to find out the status of drinking water supply system of Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE). Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) is the public sector lead agency in providing safe drinking water to the people of Bangladesh. This report tries to understand the responsibilities performed to the people of the Doulatpur Upazilla which is a remote Upazilla of Kushtia District. Pragpur Union and Chilmari Union are two union of Doulatpur Upazilla. Pragpur Union is situated at the border line of India which is 60 km away from the District Head Quarter. Another Chilmary Union is situated at flood plain of mighty Padma River. This Union became totally disconnected from the Upazilla and District Head Quarter. Drinking water availability in this Union is frequently disturbed during the rainy season. This area is hard to reach for providing safe drinking water to the people of this Union. The researcher tries to find the safe drinking availability status of these two remote Union. Safe drinking water availability status of these two Union may reflect the most of the Union in Bangladesh. If the safe drinking water supply status is satisfactory then it can be inferred that DPHE is performing its due roles in providing safe drinking water to the people of Bangladesh and vice versa. As a leading public sector organization, DPHE must have play its role as centre of excellence in providing safe drinking water source. DPHE should be used as benchmark organization for other organization working in the safe drinking water supply. But unfortunately, the service standard of DPHE is not up to the expectation of users. Though the DPHE have government mandate and wide network of organizational infrastructure even in Union Council level, there is a strong shortage of manpower deployment in these offices. Due to shortage of relevant manpower and proper budgetary allocation to DPHE, required service delivery could not be given to the people of Bangladesh. For smooth supply of drinking water in rural areas of Bangladesh, DPHE should continue more allocation of #6 Hand Pump as safe drinking water source in the rural area. DPHE need proper measures for giving instruction to the users regarding maintenance of drinking water sources. DPHE should design standard service delivery system especially in the field level. Proper measures should be taken for regular water quality monitoring in the field level. Piped water supply project should be implemented in the rural areas where electricity is available. Sufficient technical and administrative manpower should be appointed in the field level office. Sufficient budgetary allocation should be ensured from the Government. Research and Development work should be continued to match the changing situation of Hydro-geology.