Hill MP prod to state govt on water project

TT, 20 July 2019, Siliguri: Raju Bista, the BJP MP of Darjeeling, has demanded that the Bengal government expedite work on the drinking water supply project for Darjeeling town and its srrounding areas.

In 2015, the central government had announced the inclusion of Darjeeling under Amrut (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) and sanctioned a Rs 204.84-crore project to supply drinking water in the town.

Bista, who recently raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, has been informed that the project has been sanctioned and work started in the hills.

Under the project, the Centre will bear half the expenses while the state and the local civic body will have to shoulder 45 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, of the cost. The state government is the implementing agency.

"I am glad that the project to provide clean and safe drinking water to every household in my constituency has begun through the initiation of the Amrut-sponsored water project in Darjeeling town. I will make sure that during my tenure, the water crisis in every panchayat, block and town in the hills and plains is solved," Bista said.

Bista said he would take steps for water conservation and rejuvenation of aquifers and natural springs.

"Once completed, the project will cover every household in the Darjeeling municipality area and we feel people should make sure that the agencies concerned utilise the funds in a proper manner," the MP said.

Under the project, all pipes in the hill town will be relaid, around 30 water tanks built and 14 pump houses installed.

In the Lok Sabha, Bista had also raised the issue of the pollution of the Mahananda river, which flows through Siliguri.

"I have requested that the river be brought under a central rejuvenation project. The minister concerned has replied that the state government has taken up a plan to rejuvenate it within two years, starting from April 2019," Bista said..