20m Bangladeshis still being poisoned by arsenic-tainted wells

Arsenic-tainted government wells are still poisoning an estimated 20 million people in Bangladesh, a number that is unchanged from 10 years ago despite years of action to dig new wells at safer depths, according to a report released Wednesday. The new report by New York-based Human Rights Watch blames nepotism and neglect by Bangladeshi officials, saying they are deliberately having new wells dug in areas convenient for friends, family members and political supporters and allies, rather than in places where arsenic contamination is highest or large numbers of poor villagers are being exposed. Government officials did not immediately comment on the findings.

There is no technical problem that can’t be solved if the political will is there. But what we see is that the government is using many of its valuable resources in areas where there is no need for deep tube wells from the government.

Senior researcher Richard Pearshouse

Human Rights Watch based its report on a survey of about 125,000 government wells dug from 2006 to 2012 specifically to give villagers safer options, after an earlier survey of 5 million wells found millions exposed to water that exceeded Bangladesh’s arsenic contamination limit of 50 parts per billion. Arsenic is a naturally occurring and toxic element found in the soil and groundwater of some areas of the world, including vast delta regions like Bangladesh and eastern India. Experts estimate that up to 15 percent of Bangladesh’s 10 million tube wells, most of which are private, are likely to be contaminated.

There are no rivers and canals close by. From where shall we collect water? For this reason we drink this arsenic mixed water.

Hazrat Ali, who lives in Khirdasdi

Bangladesh arsenic