An analysis of institutional stakeholders' opinion on arsenic mitigation in Bangladesh

Abstract

The extent and severity of Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater throughout Bangladesh and its detrimental effects on human health are well known. While various mitigation measures have been undertaken by various organizations, most of them have not achieved their expected outcomes due to associated technical, spatial and socio-economic challenges. In this study, institutional stakeholders' opinions on various aspects of As mitigation were elicited to identify their preferences for and reservations on specific mitigation measures. The current status of As mitigation activities and the factors influencing the success of As mitigation were also explored. While institutional weakness, lack of accountability and a latency period were the major factors hindering sustainable As mitigation, stakeholders' understanding of the As problem and their preferences for the different mitigation measures also had a significant impact on mitigation effectiveness. Mitigation of As contamination was a complex issue that required coordinated effort from various levels of stakeholders and the concept of "paying for water", which is currently unknown in Bangladesh, needs to be developed to create a greater sense of user ownership of As safe water and thus better water management.