Siliguri water supply hit

TT, Siliguri, Sept. 16: Water supply was disrupted for the second time today in less than a week in Siliguri as a pipeline in the principal distribution network ruptured at Fulbari.

The damage was repaired and the supply will resume tomorrow.

Water supply in all 47 wards of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation was affected for five days since September 8 because of the PHE department's work to shift the pipelines along a road that was being converted into Asian Highway 11 and a subsequent breach in one of the aquatic ducts.

"The supply had resumed on September 13 as the PHE engineers could successfully shift the principal pipeline that carried water to the reservoirs across Siliguri and repair the damage of the pipe. However, this morning, a joint in the pipeline near Fulbari ruptured. The PHE department immediately took up the task of repairing it. So, water could not be supplied in the morning hours," said Saradindu Chakraborty, the member, mayor-in-council (water supply) of the SMC.

Chakraborty, who also visited the spot and spoke to the PHE engineers, said: "The repair has finished and the water supply will resume in a full-fledged manner from tomorrow. We understand the inconvenience faced by people. But we cannot help in case there is a sudden technical snag."

In Siliguri, water is drawn from the Teesta-Mahananda Canal and brought to the treatment plant at Fulbari. Water flows from Fulbari to 15 overhead tanks and four underground reservoirs. From the reservoirs, water flows to all the 47 wards.