Stained water running through pipelines

SNS, Darjeeling, 12 November 2013: The Darjeeling municipality is being flooded with complaints from the people about stained piped water running through the pipelines being manned by the civic body’s water supply network. The pipelines were supposed to be laid way back in the 1930s and 1940s.

The oldness of the lines is causing the piped water being stained, the residents said. The officials concerned pointed out that the pipes having rusted and some leakages that have cropped up are behind the problem. Notably, most of such pipes in the civic areas run through sewerages or drains or what is locally known as jhora.

The people from ward number 26 of the civic area today assembled at the Darjeeling municipality office, bringing samples of the dirt that they said they have been finding in the piped water for the past two months. “This dirt is causing sickness among our children. Worried, we have stopped using it. It stinks and is even unfit to flush the lavatory with. We are now digging deep in our pockets to purchase the mineral waters,” said a resident of the ward.

The mineral water costs Rs 18 a litre while that supplied by vehicles costs Rs 200 for 500 litres in Darjeeling. The same is the situation in ward number 25, it is learnt. The municipality officials said they had been trying to fix the problem for some time. “We have succeeded in spotting the origin. The problem would be solved soon,” said an official, adding that the sewerage getting mixed up with the pipes in ward no 26 is causing dirt getting into the piped water. 

“Today, we have finally been able to spot the problem. The spot is found somewhere at the heart of the bazaar area and it runs along the Hill Cart Road. We would not dig the road out, but we will lay a new connection instead,” said the municipality vice-chairman, Mr Sukbahadur Biswakarma. 

Meanwhile, the officials said they are now looking forward to getting Rs 192 crore from the Centre to solve the problem permanently. The Darjeeling municipality had earlier signed an agreement with the state urban development department, but the project, envisaged to solve the problem of piped water by revamping the pipelines, will be implemented once the Centre gives its nod, clearing the funds. 

According to the municipality chairman, Mr Amar Singh Rai, the Centre would be approached to provide 80 per cent of the funds for the project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. “The state would bear 15 per cent and the civic body, five per cent,” he added.