"It's a deterrent to possible malpractice of Wasa staff at the field level and mob violence in the event of a water crisis," Wasa Managing Director (MD) ANM Akhtar Hossain said.

Army personnel will patrol the Wasa zones, visit water pumps and prevent any disruption in supply, created by Wasa staff and unscrupulous locals for personal gains, he said.

Akhtar Hossain said the army teams would continue till May 31 and Wasa would bear all operational costs.

Depletion of groundwater level and frequent power failures in the dry season that halt operation of water pumps increases the shortfall in water supply, the MD pointed out.

He said the suspension of power supply in Jatrabari from 8:30am till noon Wednesday caused a shortfall of 1 crore litres an hour in Wasa water output. But people will hardly understand such problems, he added.

In the past, local ruffians in many areas obstructed water supply either by taking over operation of the pumps or capturing Wasa water lorries, and sold water cashing in on the dry season crisis. A section of Wasa staff was allegedly involved in the mischief for monetary gains.

On the allegation, Akhtar Hossain said Wasa staff sometimes connived with the local ruffians or yielded to their pressure to obstruct normal water supply.

A pump operator at Kazi Bari (Biswa Road) pump under Wasa zone-5 said army teams will cooperate with them in ensuring equitable supply of water in all areas and addressing any unusual situation.

Army deployment is meant to ease water crisis in the dry season through smooth distribution, said an operator at Kuratali pump (Badda) in the same zone.