An Arsenic Treatment Plant has been set up at Alampur village in Sadar upazila of Meherpur recently with the financial assistance by Australia with an aim to providing safe drinking water to the arsenic-prone villages.
On the occasion, non-government organisation Manab Unnoyon Kendra (MUK) has arranged a discussion at the
village.
Chaired
by advocate Abdus Salam, the programme was addressed, by Oyech Aljok,
chief coordinator of Infinity Water of Australia, as the chief guest.
Arsenic has become a matter of grave concern in Meherpur district as many people are drinking arsenic contaminated water in absence of safe water.
Highest level of arsenic in drinking water was found in Amjhupi, Beltolapara, Buriputa, Ujolpur, Subidpur area under Sadar upazila, Bholadanga, Tetulbaria under Gangni, and Taranagar and Joypur area under Mujibnagar upazila of the district.
According to the district health department, some 2,079 people are affected by the arsenic-related diseases.
Local people and public representatives, however, informed that over 200 people died of arsenicosis and 10,000 affected since it exposed in the district in 1990.
GY/LY
