Tube wells remain defunct in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 25: Although it is the monsoon season but several tube wells are not functioning in Habibpur block areas.The tube wells were set up by the Malda Zilla Parishad a few months ago, just before the panchayat elections. Numerous people face trouble while drawing drinking water in different areas where tube wells are the only alternative sources of drinking water.The newly formed panchayat samiti in Habibpur backed by the LF took an initiative to repair the defunct tube wells but their work could not materialise owing to a fund crunch. Though the Malda Zilla Parishad set up tube wells, now it is the responsibility of the block officials to repair the defunct tube wells.A senior administrative official said: “All tube wells have been defunct because of the scarcity of water sources in the under ground level. The water table of this area is far below the normal level”.Investigations revealed that locals including political personalities have been setting up submersible pumps indiscriminately to collect water for irrigation. This is the chief cause of the decreasing water levels drastically in Habibpur areas. “The local people are least bothered about the alarming situation of drinking water crisis but they manage to get permission for setting up shallow tube wells but use submersible pumps illegally,” said a senior official of water investigation department.Though the district administration had discussed the matter to recharge the under ground level water by implementing a project of ‘check dam’ through national rural employment guarantee scheme ( NREGS) but nothing has materialized in Habibpur block , a rain fed area. “I will ask block authorities and look into the problem”, said Mr. C R Das, the district magistrate in Malda.