PHE-installed water units lie defunct

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 3 AUG.: The public health engineering (PHE) department installed units to provide arsenic and fluoride-free drinking water under the Sajal Dhara project in the northern part of the district, particularly in Chanchal I and II blocks, in November 2008. However, due to lack of power connections none are operational.

The PHE officials has asked the Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) to commission the projects soon. The MZP called a meeting on the matter on 6 August asking the officials of the PHE and the electricity department to sort out the problem.

The PHE had informed the MZP that drinking water units at Gorakhpur in Chanchal-II block had been installed on 19 November, 2008. Similarly, three other units located at Bhagabanpur-Nimgachhi, Baliadanga and Gouria in Chanchal-I block were installed between 13 November and 28 November, 2008. But owing to a lack of power connection, the projects are yet to be commissioned and a beneficiary committee has been formed individually to run the projects. Recently, local villagers expressed unhappiness over the delay of its commission facing as they are facing a crisis regarding safe drinking water.

“We are under tremendous pressure from the locals. We have informed the matter to the district authorities,” said Mr Swapan Maitra, executive engineer, PHE arsenic division.

Under the scheme, the beneficiary committee will run the project, bearing its maintenance cost. The committee will collect Rs 20 to 25 per month from families receiving arsenic and fluoride-free drinking water.

The aim of the project is to provide water to 300 families and produce 2,000l per hour.

“We do not have information about the projects which are yet to begin due to the lack of power connection. We need to ask the assistance engineer who is working in Chanchal area,” said Mr DK Mondal, divisional manager, State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Malda. The PHE directorate had allotted funds for setting up such units across the district in 2004.

The MZP, with the help of the PHE, has already commissioned five units in Ratua II block. Two projects in Habibpur block and others in Ratua-I block were set up in 2008. The MZP has more than Rs one crore more for implementing at least 18 such project in other block areas.

The additional executive officer of the MZP Mr Kajal Banerjee said: “We have started the process of site selection for the installation of such drinking water projects across the district. There will be a meeting on 6 August on this issue.”