TMC pulls up civic body over water shortage issue

Prashant Acharya, EOI, SILIGURI, 11 Sep 2016:  The Trinamool Congress is in the opposition in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and the party has taken the current water shortage issue in a serious vein to disconcert the ruling  Left Front. State tourism minister Gautam Deb held the SMC board and its mayor responsible for the suspension in water supply. He said, "The general public is suffering due to the negligence of the SMC, they should  have taken alternative measures to provide water. The mayor should have consulted the concerned department to resolve the matter as quickly as possible." He was speaking at a function in College Para on Sunday.

Siliguri has not received its regular supply of drinking water since the last four days and the TMC is strongly protesting the alleged inaction of mayor Ashok Bhattacharya, the CPM veteran. SMC councilors said the supply was cut off as the main pipelines at Fulbari were relocated on account of the ongoing work for the Asian Highway II.

SMC councilor and and TMC leader Nantu Pal said, "For four days there has been no drinking water. The supply was cut off suddenly and the mayor never intimated us. There was no press conference or  any circular in the local newspapers. The mayor should be ashamed to come to office as thousands of people have been affected."

A protest rally was organised by the TMC in Ward 29 by holding empty bottles and buckets and sloganeering against the SMC.

All the same, the SMC issued a circular today on the suspension of water with Bhattacharya saying, "This can happen in any city and it is unfortunate. We will resume water supply shortly. People have the right  to protest and they can do so."