Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority has undertaken to reduce dependency on groundwater from 87% to 50% by 2015. Ministries for rural development, cooperatives, water resources, environment, forests, shipping, industry, law, labour and other agencies committed their full support to this measure to address unsustainable extraction of groundwater. GWP Bangladesh will organise annual follow-up meetings of the new coordinating body set up to monitor progress. A dialogue organised by GWP Bangladesh at the request of local government was instrumental in rallying support for this move. Stakeholders were able to examine the potential for surface water to supply growing urban needs and reduce dependence on groundwater.
