Over 1.67 lakh tube-wells dry up in Feni amid acute fresh water crisis

An acute fresh water crisis has struck Feni, leaving more than 1.67 lakh tube-wells across the coastal district dry amid ongoing heatwaves and a prolonged drought.

Tens of thousands of residents are now without access to safe drinking water, posing serious public health concerns and threatening local agriculture. According to the Feni District Public Health Engineering Department (DPHED), 1,67,386 tube-wells have gone dry as the underground water table has plummeted to alarming levels. In several upazilas, about 70% of tube-wells have stopped producing water, forcing people to collect water from distant sources or resort to unsafe pond and ditch water — resulting in outbreaks of diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases.

“There’s no water left in tube-wells, ponds, canals, or reservoirs. Only rain can ease this crisis,” said Md Shafiul Haque, Executive Engineer at DPHED. He attributed the situation to the effects of climate change, excessive groundwater extraction for irrigation, and a prolonged absence of rainfall. “Once it rains, the water table will rise again.”

Out of 36,811 registered tube-wells in the district, 9,871 had already been out of service for some time. Of the remaining 26,941, nearly half are now dry. Additionally, over half of around two lakh privately installed shallow tube-wells are no longer supplying safe water.

The crisis worsened after last year’s devastating floods, which completely damaged 16,415 tube-wells and partially affected another 27,600, many of which remain unrepaired.

A visit to Fulgazi Upazila revealed that shallow tube-wells, typically 40–50 feet deep, have dried up, leaving about 15,000 units inoperable. Residents are walking long distances for water, and farmers are increasingly worried about their Boro paddy crops.

“We invested heavily in planting Boro rice, but now cracks are forming in the soil because of intense heat and drought. We’re uncertain about harvesting anything this season,” said one farmer.

Mohammad Abdullah Arman, Sub-Assistant Engineer at Fulgazi Upazila’s Public Health Engineering Department, reported that among 1,061 government shallow tube-wells, 1,188 deep tube-wells, 887 submersible pump-equipped wells, and around 17,000 private tube-wells, nearly 70% are no longer lifting water. “With no alternative system in place, rain is the only solution.”

In GM Hat Union, the situation is especially dire. Kulsum Akter Sharifa from Sharifpur village said that five out of 11 families there had deep tube-wells, but none are currently yielding safe water. “We’re suffering terribly trying to collect water even for drinking and cooking.”

Anis, another resident from Bosikpur, said none of the 35 deep tube-wells in Sri Chandra Pur village are functional. “This is what it’s like in almost every ward here — no access to safe water.”

Khokon Chandra Patwari noted that the deep tube-well inside the GM Hat Union Parishad building has been out of order for three years. “The water table’s collapse caused this. If the government provides alternative solutions, people will benefit.”

Similar conditions prevail across Sonagazi, Parshuram, Chhagalnaiya, and Sadar upazilas, with thousands trekking long distances for water. Many are forced to drink unsafe pond and ditch water, leading to frequent illnesses.

Karimullah, a farmer from Pathan Nagar, said, “We’ve planted hybrid paddy, but now the panicles are turning into husk due to lack of water. Every source — ponds, canals, and reservoirs — has dried up. Even the BADC can’t provide irrigation anymore.”

In Daganbhuiyan Upazila, residents complain of increased salinity in tube-well water, rendering it undrinkable.

Feni Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said the district administration will work with the Public Health Engineering Department to list non-functional tube-wells and arrange emergency water supply to remote areas.

The crisis is estimated to affect around 10 lakh people in the district, home to 17 lakh residents according to the 2022 census.