People living in Nirala, Prantika Residential Area, Basupara, Iqbal Nagar and No 19, 21, 24, 25 and 26 wards are the worst sufferers as they only get water twice a day only.

Locals said the water shortage has turned acute over the last one week.

Sources at Khulna Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Kwasa) said there is a demand for 11 crore litres of drinking water in the city every day and 40 percent of it is met by Kwasa.

But Kwasa is failing to supply water for the last one week following excessive rise in salinity in Madhumoti River water from where it supplies water to the city after treatment. Besides, the fall in the ground water level has aggravated the crisis further.

Talking to the UNB, a number of city dwellers raised a question over the benefit of the mega project implemented recently involving Tk 2,500 crore to meet the demand for drinking water.

Deedarul Alam, a retired professor and resident of Nirala Residential area, said, “When health experts are suggesting frequent hand washing to maintain personal hygiene during the coronavirus pandemic, we’re not even getting the required water from Wasa for our daily use.”

Ayatullah Sumon, a resident of Iqbal Nagar area, said, “We’ve been receiving saline water for the last one and a half months. We’re facing an acute crisis of water since the beginning of Ramadan. The demand for water has gone up following the coronavirus outbreak.”

Anwar Hossain, a resident of Basupara area, said, “Wasa had been supplying saline water for a long time but now we’re not getting water at all in this month of Ramadan.”

Contacted, deputy managing director of Kwasa Md Kamal Uddin, said, “The problem is a temporary one in dry season and it will be over once monsoons set in. Besides, the salinity in water has come down after the implementation of the mega project.”