Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of ...
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of ...
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of ...
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CHAPTER I<br />
Introduction<br />
In <strong>the</strong> last few years <strong>the</strong> magnitude <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> arsenic contamination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ground water used<br />
for drinking and cooking purpose has been well established. Secretary, <strong>Ministry</strong> <strong>of</strong> Local<br />
<strong>Government</strong>, Rural <strong>Government</strong> & Co-operatives, Local <strong>Government</strong> Division called a<br />
meeting on July 29, 2001 <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> agencies involved in <strong>the</strong> development, planning or<br />
research on ground water use in <strong>the</strong> country. In addition, a representative from<br />
<strong>Bangladesh</strong> Petroleum Exploration Company, that has a large amount <strong>of</strong> subsurface<br />
geological information acquired during exploration for oil and natural gas, and <strong>the</strong><br />
concerned <strong>of</strong>ficials from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ministry</strong> and <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bangladesh</strong> Arsenic Mitigation Water<br />
Supply Project were also present.<br />
Mr. Badiur Rahman, Secretary to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ministry</strong> gave a detailed account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> threat to<br />
public health because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> contamination <strong>of</strong> ground water by arsenic and <strong>the</strong> steps being<br />
taken by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Government</strong> on this issue. He emphasized <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local experts in<br />
solving <strong>the</strong> problems as well as in drawing up a future road map for <strong>the</strong> government.<br />
Different aspects <strong>of</strong> ground water issues were discussed and it was decided to form a<br />
'Task Force' to collect all <strong>the</strong> available information and data on ground water in<br />
<strong>Bangladesh</strong> and suggest <strong>the</strong> areas where arsenic safe ground water can still be used for<br />
household purposes.<br />
Following <strong>the</strong> meeting a notification (No. LGD/WS-3/Arsenic /Optin-1/2001/127 dated<br />
6/8/2001) was issued forming <strong>the</strong> 'Task Force' along with <strong>the</strong> Terms <strong>of</strong> Reference .In<br />
summary <strong>the</strong> composition and <strong>the</strong> TOR were as follows.<br />
1.1 Composition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Task Force<br />
i. S.K.M.Abdullah, Chairman, Technical Advisory Group, BAMWSP<br />
ii. Director General, Geological Survey <strong>of</strong> <strong>Bangladesh</strong><br />
iii. Director General, Water Resources Planning Organization<br />
iv. Managing Director, <strong>Bangladesh</strong> Petroleum Exploration and Production<br />
Limited<br />
v. Chief Engineer, (Irrigation), <strong>Bangladesh</strong> Agricultural Development<br />
Corporation<br />
vi. Project Director, BAMWSP<br />
vii. Director (Ground Water Hydrology), <strong>Bangladesh</strong> Water Development<br />
Board<br />
viii. Executive Engineer, (R & D), Department <strong>of</strong> Public Health Engineering<br />
ix. Hydro-Geologist, BAMWSP<br />
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Chairman<br />
Member<br />
Member<br />
Member<br />
Member<br />
Member<br />
Member<br />
Member<br />
Member-<br />
Secretary
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