SALT LAKE RESIDENTS FACE TROUBLE WITH WATER SUPPLY

On Saturday morning, 100 taps went dry in the salt lake area because the water supply has been going down with the temperature rise.

Sector- I, II, and III reported that the water supply has been irregular for some time in the summer, and there is not enough water for daily use.

Sanjib Ghosh (a resident of ED block) said: “His family had been doing with very little water for the past few days”. 

Sanjib Ghosh said, “On Saturday, there was no water supply. Our water supply is erratic at best for the past several days. Our water tank, like many of my neighbors, has remained completely dry on Saturday.”

In the township, the crisis of water in the summer is not new. The department of water supply engineers blamed the locals for using the filtered water for washing the vehicles and also instructed people to use pipes for washing driveways.  

In a single day, Salt Lake needs around 15 million gallons of water. Previously, 8 gallons (MGD) of water supply in the Tallah-Palta network was used. New Town requires ‘10 MGD’ of water. They argued with the authorities as they do not receive freshwater instead they have to use groundwater. 

PHED (Public Health Engineering Department) official is looking for the water supply at the adjoining areas of Salt Lake, and also said: “groundwater table had gone down by several feet.”

The Public Health Engineering Department also said: “Ten years ago, we would hit the groundwater at 30ft. Now, we have to sink pipes more than 50ft to reach the table.”

The PHED said that ten years ago, the townships needed 7 MGD a day.

Some pipes in townships have blocks (1.5-inch diameter) and, the line of water supply is also getting old.

Said by the civic official: “The pipes haven’t been cleaned this year. Since the pipelines in most blocks are as old as the township, they often get clogged with iron deposits.”

A joint in the main water supply is facing leakage for the past few days located near Salt lake stadium.

The (BMC) Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation engineers will repair the mainline of the water supply.

The (Salt Lake) Sanskritik Sansad controls numerous water tankers. Sanjay Poddar said that: “We have been flooded with calls to deliver water all over the township. Our trucks make at least 15 trips on average every day.”

6,000 liters of water can be carried in each tanker of the organization. Rs 900 a tanker has to shell out by the residents.

The BMC (Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation) has fifteen tankers of water and charges vary from Rs-300 to 1,000 all depending on the capacity of tankers.

"Supply of the water had dipped drastically,” said the Tapan Choudhury (a resident of FD Block in Sector III).

Tapan Choudhury also said: “The situation is so bad that we have been storing water in containers.”

Soham Chakraborty (another ED Block resident) said that he had to hire tankers of water at least twice. He also said: “They charged me Rs 400 each time.” 

For a couple of days, the tanks of the Karunamoyee Housing had been dry said by the residents of the Karunamoyee Housing. Also, the other residents said: “We asked our pump operator and, he said supply was scant.”

The (BMC) Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation’s department of water supply in the township said that the civic body could do little. “What can we do if supply dips?”