Advisory committee to oversee water project
Posted by barunroy on June 2, 2008
DARJEELING, June 1: By forming an advisory committee to oversee the progress of the Balasun Drinking Water Project, the state government is probably trying to pacify the irate public of Darjeeling. “The project is progressing very slowly and it may be due to the implementation of obsolete machinery and the pathetic condition of the approach road in the site”, stated MLA Pranay Rai, who is chairman of the recently formed advisory committee.
Negligence of the government is evident from the fact that the project which will supply 2 million gallons of water daily to Darjeeling town and periphery areas was kept on hold for 10 years before being implemented in 2005. The present situation of the Hills has forced the government to put its act together. “Recently about 15 engineers from Kolkata visited the site to make necessary assessments of the project and propose suggestions”, informed Mr Rai.
The committee intended for advising and overseeing the development of the project will submit quarterly reports so that the completion target of November 2009 is met. “So far only 10% of work has been completed. We will work in collaboration with the DGHC, forest department, Municipality, WBSEDCL and the tea gardens so that the completion target is met”, the MLA stated.
Among others the two MP’s from Darjeeling Mr Dawa Narbula and Mr Samant Pathak, the chairman Darjeeling Municipality ~ Mr Pemba Tshering, the joint secretary of WBSEDCL and the DM and SP are the members of the advisory committee. However, the distribution system in Darjeeling is in dire need of upgradation. Most part of the town is without legal connection and the old pipes need to be replaced. Moreover, the landslides in rainy season poses difficulties as pipes are damaged.
“The Chief Engineer, the Executive Engineer and the Assistant Engineer of the Municipal Engineering Department have come to survey the region. We will map the entire region to facilitate plans for proper distribution”, stated Mr. Pemba Tshering, chairman Darjeeling Municipality. Support systems like walls and bridges will be constructed in landslide prone areas, he added. [The Statesman]
