Arsenic-free drinking water supply disrupted in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 12 OCT: Distribution of arsenic-free drinking water has been disrupted in large parts of southern sector of the district over the past five days.

Three pumping stations located at Dariapur in Kaliachak block III, where the main water treatment plant for lifting water from the Ganga is situated, collapsed due to electrical short-circuit after a massive lightning.

The mechanical division of the public health engineering department could not supply purified water to 14 reservoirs located in different areas under Kaliachak blocks I, II and III since then.

The PHE faced a lot of trouble on Friday and Saturday when locals started agitating in different parts in the southern sector of this district.

The chief engineer had to ask the assigned contractor of the mechanical division to repair the pumping houses immediately for restoration of water supply.

Mr D Banerjee, the executive engineer of PHE arsenic division, who is responsible for the southern sector's water supply, said: “At present we are distributing drinking water with the help of makeshift arrangements. We are trying to cope with the problem taking up each area at a time.”

“We are not in a position to get treated water from the treatment plant. Distribution is going on partly for all 14 reservoirs located in different areas. Out of the three, two pumping stations have been restored temporarily. It would take at least three more days to restore all the three pumping stations permanently,” Mr Banerjee added.

According to the PHE engineers, major spare parts of the pumping stations have been damaged due to electrical short-circuit caused by massive lightning on Tuesday and Wednesday night.