PHE survey reveals district-wide drop in underground water level

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 11: The public health engineering department in Malda has completed a survey to discover the present position of the underground water level across the district during dry spells.

The objective of this survey is to ensure that hand pump tube wells are sunk in the future, in consideration of the water level in dry spells, in order to meet drinking water crises.

Due to continuing dry spells, many tube wells have become defunct across the district, including in municipal areas. Though the district had received rain eight days ago, the situation remains unchanged due to the heat wave over the last six days.

“In almost all wards, residents are facing a water crisis. We are setting up hand pump tube wells to help people facing acute water crises,” said Mr Dulal Sarkar, vice-chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality.

PHE's survey revealed that the water level has gone down at least 20 ft below the normal level in all blocks.

According to the survey report, the normal underground water level was previously 50 ft in Bamongola block area, but at present its level is measured at 70 ft.

In Gazole, where the underground water level is usually 48 ft in depth, at present the level has gone down to 69 ft.

Similarly, residents of Habibpur are collecting waters from 56 ft underground, where the normal level is 40 ft.

On the bank of the river Mahananda, the situation of Old Malda block has also worsened, with the underground water level dropping from 28 ft to 58 ft.

In Harishchandrapur-I and II blocks, the normal water level is 23 and 30 ft but at present the underground water level is 35 and 50 ft respectively.

In Chanchal-I and II blocks the normal water level is 32 and 30 ft respectively, which has dropped to 54 and 52 ft due to the lack of rain.

In Ratua-I and II blocks, the PHE has recorded the present level of underground water as 50 and 60 ft in depth, where underground water is normally available within 25 and 35 ft in the respective blocks.

“We have sent the detailed report to the higher authorities of the PHE. We expect that a fresh order will come for the re-sinking of tube wells which have become defunct,” said Mr Swapan Maitra, executive engineer, PHE, Malda.