Kurseong: Hills get drier with no drinking water

KURSEONG, 13 MARCH: Even after the formation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, people in the Hills continue to suffer as no major initiative has been taken so far to solve the problem of drinking water.

Earlier, people had to walk long distances to fetch drinking water. Now drums of water loaded in vans are being sold regularly at a profit; some days the demand of water exceeding the supply.

According to a resident of Darjeeling, Mr  Gautam Lama, not only Darjeeling town, but the entire hill station is facing the problem. Surprisingly, even after the change of authority and political powers in the state, no one has come up with a major solution to the problem of drinking water for the sake of common people.

He further said during the era of GNLF (Gorkha National Liberation Front) chief Subash Ghisingh and the then state Chief Minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, a major water project, “Balasun Water Project” was announced and its foundation stone was laid to provide sufficient drinking water to Darjeeling town.

But unfortunately, even after years, the project is yet to be completed and no one knows when.

Resident of Kurseong Mr Bhusan Chettri added: “I have learnt that under the banner of the new set up, the departments concerned have reportedly changed several damaged water supply pipes and they have been installing new pipes but when the sources have all dried up, what will the new pipes carry?”

When asked about the problem, GTA Sabha and Public Health Engineering Department chief Anit Thapa said: “We have been doing our best to solve this age old problem but we have been here for only six months. So the people will have to be patient before we finally deliver. We do not have a magic wand. Several projects have been initiated towards that direction to solve it like the Sweden project and in time the problem will be sorted out.” 

statesman news service