Kalimpong.Mukesh Sharma: Yet again speaking over the never ending water crisis topic, the Kalimpong MLA, Dr Harka Bahadur Chettri said that while he was in Kolkata he had been informed that the public are furious of the water shortage and can anytime conduct agitation against it. He notified that he has met with the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) Administrator and the PHE Minister at Kolkata and has appealed them to work towards solving this issue.
Similarly, he mentioned that approximately around Rs 27/- lakhs has been allocated to the Darjeeling Municipality but the amount has not yet been confirmed. The MLA also had spoke with the District Magistrate (DM) during which he was directed to refer with the Urban Secretary of the Urban Development Ministry regarding the water crisis and the funds. Taking the DM’s advice the MLA met with the Urban Secretary, Alankan Bangopadhaya. The Secretary acting upon the same spoke with the DM and asked him about how much funds are required and also assured the MLA of sanctioning and forwarding the fund as soon as possible for there should be no inconvenience by the water shortage.
Further, the MLA informed that when he contacted the Municipality President, LB Pariyar regarding the same 2 more issue has been highlighted. Firstly, distributing water through crisis management tankers and secondly, to take an account of the condition of all the water sources which comes under the Municipality and also about their preservation. Dr Chettri assured that he will consult the Ministry and try to get some funds for the same.
Acquainting the causes of the water crisis, the MLA said that the out growing population since the past 20- 25 years is one of the major factors. Also the unconstructive work culture of the concerned Departments adds up the list. A change in this laid back work culture is a must for this shall also hamper the GTA later. He further added that nobody is there to look after Neora’s 40,000 ltrs two tanks situated at Kafer for the office is at Jalpaiguri. Even the staffs of Neora residing at the quarters there are no looking after the tanks.
Saying that the work should be improved, the MLA mentioned that despite of PHE being a vast Department still they do not have any repair and management works. Likewise commenting upon the illegal tapping issue, he said that it cannot be termed as illegal as getting water is everybody’s right. But that does not mean people should disrupt other’s pipelines for fulfilling their own household use. It is the liability of the Department to take care of this issue, he underlined. And even the public needs to be well aware of this grave issue.
Dr Chettri later speaking about the enormous amount of electricity bills to be borne by the public directed them to submit their bills to him. Only those bills issued after August 2011are to be submitted. He will be enquiring the Department about the electricity bills, he notified. The public are directed to submit the bills either to Kumar Chamling or Prem Kumar Chettri at the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Sub Divisional Party office. The bills will be then forwarded to the DGHC Administrator and the MLA will also be discussing the same with the Power Minister, Manish Gupta at Kolkata. Lastly, he questioned that when the understanding has been done in the political level regarding this matter then why is the Department giving excuses about digital meters.
Similarly, he mentioned that approximately around Rs 27/- lakhs has been allocated to the Darjeeling Municipality but the amount has not yet been confirmed. The MLA also had spoke with the District Magistrate (DM) during which he was directed to refer with the Urban Secretary of the Urban Development Ministry regarding the water crisis and the funds. Taking the DM’s advice the MLA met with the Urban Secretary, Alankan Bangopadhaya. The Secretary acting upon the same spoke with the DM and asked him about how much funds are required and also assured the MLA of sanctioning and forwarding the fund as soon as possible for there should be no inconvenience by the water shortage.
Further, the MLA informed that when he contacted the Municipality President, LB Pariyar regarding the same 2 more issue has been highlighted. Firstly, distributing water through crisis management tankers and secondly, to take an account of the condition of all the water sources which comes under the Municipality and also about their preservation. Dr Chettri assured that he will consult the Ministry and try to get some funds for the same.
Acquainting the causes of the water crisis, the MLA said that the out growing population since the past 20- 25 years is one of the major factors. Also the unconstructive work culture of the concerned Departments adds up the list. A change in this laid back work culture is a must for this shall also hamper the GTA later. He further added that nobody is there to look after Neora’s 40,000 ltrs two tanks situated at Kafer for the office is at Jalpaiguri. Even the staffs of Neora residing at the quarters there are no looking after the tanks.
Saying that the work should be improved, the MLA mentioned that despite of PHE being a vast Department still they do not have any repair and management works. Likewise commenting upon the illegal tapping issue, he said that it cannot be termed as illegal as getting water is everybody’s right. But that does not mean people should disrupt other’s pipelines for fulfilling their own household use. It is the liability of the Department to take care of this issue, he underlined. And even the public needs to be well aware of this grave issue.
Dr Chettri later speaking about the enormous amount of electricity bills to be borne by the public directed them to submit their bills to him. Only those bills issued after August 2011are to be submitted. He will be enquiring the Department about the electricity bills, he notified. The public are directed to submit the bills either to Kumar Chamling or Prem Kumar Chettri at the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) Sub Divisional Party office. The bills will be then forwarded to the DGHC Administrator and the MLA will also be discussing the same with the Power Minister, Manish Gupta at Kolkata. Lastly, he questioned that when the understanding has been done in the political level regarding this matter then why is the Department giving excuses about digital meters.
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