Water to be distributed through Tankers in Kalimpong town

Kalimpong, 8 May, 2012:

The Morcha acting upon the 100 hour water crisis in Kalimpong has appealed the concerned Department and the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) Administrator to solve the issue as soon as possible.

Concerning the issue MLA of Kalimpong, Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri said that he had a talk with the DGHC administrator Anil Verma, District Collector Dr. Soumitra Mohan over the phone after the meeting with the urban development minister Firaz Hakim in the Writers building, Kolkata.

After the discussion of the problem with the minister they had come to a conclusion that drinking water will now be distributed through tankers in the town. The minister has asked the administration to deal with the situation at the earliest informed Dr. Chettri. Whatever expanses will be made during the distribution of the water through tankers, the State concerned department will bear said the minister.

The Morcha Central Committee, Organizational Secretary Samuel Gurung speaking over the issue earlier said that the Morcha is much worried about this grave issue and they are in search of a solution. The DGHC Administrator and the MLA have been notified about this matter. The town faces much water crisis as the water supply from Neora is also distributed to the Army areas and the in route villages. Though these in route villages are less populated, still the people of these villages intake water more than enough. Hence, Gurung had appealed them to use judiciously keeping in mind the water crisis issue in the main town.

The Morcha had also requested the Kalimpong Municipality to take some strong action regarding the water issue. Gurung further, added that it is not only the problem of the public instead it is the Morcha’s problem for they too are counted under the public of Kalimpong. Similarly, the Organizational Secretary also appealed the PHE to save water from being wasted while distribution. Till date no organizations has come forward in search for solution in this matter, he complained.

One main reason for the town to face water crisis is the lack of coordination between the Neora which is looked after by the West Bengal Government and the PHE looked upon by the DGHC. When asked about this to MLA, he said that the Neora office is situated at Jalpaiguri District. The former Government chose the plain area for establishing Neora’s office, and the then politicians too did not complain about it. There is no possibility in establishing a water supply office in the plains whereas the water needs to be supplied in the hills. Hence the MLA assured that he will be discussing about this with the State’s PHE Minister, Subrat Roy and will be requesting him to shift the said office in Kalimpong town itself. Lastly, he notified that the huge water tanks of Neora at Kafer made by investing lakhs of rupees is being looked after by the public in lieu of Neora. “If the Department cannot look after its own tanks then what is the role of the Neora?” he questioned.

(TS)

 

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