GDNS & KSS INVESTIGATING THE WATER PROBLEMS IN KALIMPONG

By Nisha Chettri (TNI Kalimpong) ~ Edited By R. Subrata (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Kalimpong, 27th June, 2015:  After visiting Neora-the major water source of Kalimpong, Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan (GDNS) and Kalimpong Sangrakchan Samiti (KSS) said that Neora has been releasing 16 lakh gallon litres of water every day. Addressing a press conference, the two organizations who have been working to solve the acute shortage of water since last few years here said that Neora source discharges 15-16 lakh gallons (litres) of water regularly where 8 lakh gallon litres is released for Kalimpong town and 7 lack gallon litres for the Army respectively. Acting to the letter received from PHE, the organizations visited the site yesterday where they found that the water flow from the source is regular and problem lies with the distributers. A source disclosed that the executive engineer of PHE had written to the executive engineer of Neora regarding the irregularity of water services which Neora strictly denied. Speaking about the conversation with the engineers of Neora, Uday Kumai the chairman of GDNS told the press that the job of Neora is to release water to the Army and the civil in 60-40 percentage, 60 to the civil and 40 to the army, ‘It was seen that the concerned ones of Neora are doing their job, the problem is with the distributers here’ said Kumai. PHE and Kalimpong Water Works are the two water distributing departments in Kalimpong. PHE and Water Works receive water from Neora, Thokchu and Dhaula. In 16 lakh gallons of water received from PHE 8 is for civil, 7 for army and 1 gets wasted while fixing where in the other hand water works has to release another 7 lakh gallon litres of water which makes a total of 15 litres of water for Kalimpong town per day but the question ‘Where does the water go?’ still arise. Sonam T Bhutia, the secretary of KSS later said, ‘Every inquisition with the PHE about the irregular water supply draws a lame excuse of landslide where in the other hand, Neora never complains about it.’ The organizations now firmly believe that the nature has given adequate water where human factors have disturbed the flow, ‘Neora is releasing water every day, PHE complains about not receiving water for three days and people wait in their taps for days, I don’t know where the problem is, this should be sorted in a meeting soon’ says Bhutia demanding a meeting with the SDO, chairperson Municipality, PHE, Water works, GDNS and KSS as soon as possible. However, P.R Pradhan, the patron of GDNS said, that the richer ones can buy water in 600 rupees for 500 litres but poor ones cannot afford, the organizations also disapproved the water project of PHE worth 140 crore which will take years to function, ‘we need immediate solution to ease this crisis, we can’t wait for 2-3 years to solve water problem here’ said the organizations.

Photo: Nisha Chettri (TNI)