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
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