The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has engaged technical experts of Jadavpur University for the implementation of its mega drinking water project and formed a task force for coordination.
“We have engaged experts from the water resource department of Jadavpur University. They will provide us with technical support regarding the implementation of the upcoming drinking water project. A task force has also been formed that will liaison with the experts and agencies and engineers concerned while keeping regular updates and consistently monitoring the project,” mayor Gautam Deb said on Tuesday.
He was talking to newspersons after the 27th monthly meeting of the board of councillors of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The SMC, which is the largest civic body in north Bengal with 47 wards, is implementing the ₹511-crore drinking water project under the central government’s AMRUT 2.0 scheme.
The tender process for the first phase of the scheme, for which ₹211 crores would be spent, has been carried out and a survey is in progress.
According to the plan, water would be drawn from the Teesta at Gajoldoba, which is around 25km from here, and would be sent to the water treatment plant in Fulbari, on the southern outskirts of the city.
The SMC has identified spots where five pumping stations will be built to maintain water pressure in different wards.
“A sum of ₹90 lakh would be spent on each pumping station,” said Deb.
At the meeting, Amit Jain, the leader of the Opposition at the SMC and a BJP councillor, and Left councillor Saradindu Chakraborty said drinking water supply had turned erratic in most wards over the past couple of days.
“The temperature is crossing the 36 degrees Celsius mark every day and hence, people need more water. At such a time, the water supply has become irregular and people are facing inconveniences,” said Jain.
Sources in the water supply department of the SMC said because of siltation in the intake well in the water treatment plant at Fulbari, the supply had been affected.
“We are clearing the silt deposit and hope the supply will become normal by tomorrow (Wednesday),” said a source.
Dulal Dutta, the member, mayor-in-council (water), said the existing treatment plant couldn’t meet the regular demand of Siliguri.
“As of now, around 100 MLD (million litres per day) of water is required in the city but with the existing infrastructure, we can, at best, supply around 50 MLD. To meet the shortage, we are sending tankers to different wards to provide drinking water to people,” said Dutta.
