Locals are facing water crisis as flow in Panekyang canal in Bandarban Sadar upazila is badly affected due to lifting of huge quantity of water from a 100-foot-deep ring well that a local influential person constructed for running a hotel.

Defying the protest from the locals, Kajal Kanti Das, an advisor to Bandarban district Awami League, constructed the ring well in the middle of the canal one year ago and around 12,000 litres of water is lifted daily day from there using a power pump with high voltage motor.

Around 650 inhabitants of Kashem Para and Kosai Para under Bandarban Sadar upazila depend on the canal for their drinking water and daily works, including washing and bathing.

“We are badly suffering as huge quantity of water is lifted from the underground daily, causing decline in the surface water flow,” said Sharmin Akthar of Kashem Para area.

“We had urged Kajol Kanti Das not to construct the ring well in the canal, our only source of water. But the influential man didn’t pay heed to us,” said Saiful Islam, another local, adding that their water crisis worsened during the last few months.

Abul Kalam, ward councillor of the area, said, “We didn’t support when Kajal constructed the well in the canal around one year ago.”

“Around 12,000 litres of water is daily needed for running this hotel,” said Sultan Nafiz Mahmud, manager of Hotel Hill View, run by Kajal.

Shibendu Khastagir, superintending engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board in Chattogram, said, “If huge quantity of water is lifted from underground through a deep well dug in a canal, it seriously affects the surface water flow.”

Contacted, Kajal Kanti Das said, “I constructed the ring well in the canal to bring water for my hotel. You can write as you wish. I don’t care.”

Bandarban Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Noman Hossain said, “This is really unfortunate that a ring well has been constructed in the middle of a natural canal to draw water for hotel business. As the alleged person is influential, we would request the affected locals to come to my office with an application.”