Over 3,000 Water Meters Stolen in Ullapara
More than 3,000 water meters have been stolen in Ullapara, Sirajganj, before the municipality began supplying safe drinking water to residents. More than half of the 6,000 meters installed for customers have been stolen, raising uncertainty over the provision of water connections.
Municipal authorities said meter thefts had increased over the past six months. Despite filing complaints with the police, they have been unable to stop the thefts.
According to municipal sources, work on a water supply and sanitation project to provide safe drinking water to 6,000 customers in the municipal area has been completed. A water treatment plant has been built on the bank of the Ghatina River under the project. Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam recently inaugurated the plant. However, household water supply has yet to begin.
Municipal Executive Officer Ashraful Islam Bhuiyan said more than 3,000 of the 6,000 meters installed for customers had been stolen over the past year, with most of the thefts occurring in the past six months. The thefts could create difficulties in providing water connections to customers, he said. Despite complaints to the police, the thefts had continued.
He said meter thefts had been particularly frequent in Ghoshgati, Kawak and Ullapara. The loss of so many meters before the start of water supply had complicated the implementation of the project, he added.
Several residents of Ward No. 2 in Jhikra, including Mazharul Islam, Ashraful Islam and Sajjad Hossain, said meters had been installed in their area, but the municipality had yet to begin supplying water. They expressed concern over the thefts and feared that the missing meters might delay their water connections. They called for an immediate end to the thefts, replacement of the stolen meters and the launch of water supply.
Ullapara Police Station OC Mehedi Hasan said police were aware of the water meter thefts in the municipal area. Police patrols had been increased to prevent further thefts, he added.
