PHE pipes stolen, locals go without water

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 6 OCT: Arsenic free drinking water supply is suspended in many villages including Pirpur, Khaskol and other areas in English Bazaar block for over the past two months.

Locals feel that the engineers of public health engineering (PHE) department has decided to stop the supply of water to these villages as the PHE pipelines had been stolen several times from the area.

Locals further said that the PHE officials had started withdrawing and exhuming the existing pipes from those areas near Milky in English Bazaar, as there seems to be no respite from these goons.

Instead, the department has decided to lay plastic (PVC) pipes for the purpose. Hundreds of villagers will not be getting drinking water before Kali puja, a departmental official said.

In August this year, when the water pipes were stolen, the PHE officials informed the local administration and the local people’s representatives including the MLA English Bazaar Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, but could not stop the menace.

Having failed to control the situation, Mr Choudhury had proposed that the PHE draw a different alignment selecting better areas for laying pipes to provide drinking water to Pirpur, Khaskol and other villages.

Yesterday, when the labourers were working to exhume the pipelines a group of criminals allegedly attacked them and forced them to stop the work.

Police finally rescued them from the spot last evening after which the PHE officials lodged complaints with the English Bazaar police station.

The PHE executive engineer Mr Swapan Maitra claimed that local goons attacked the labourers.

“We have sought police so that labourers can bring the existing pipes to our godown," he said. The executive engineer Mr Maitra disclosed that they would not be able to supply water to those areas before Kali puja.

“We are estimating the cost of the entire work which will be sent to our higher authorities for approval. When the funds will be available we will lay PVC pipes to supply water," Mr Maitra said.

The English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury has admitted that the local goons have been stealing pipes forand disrupting the services.

“We have requested the PHE department to draw a new alignment for laying water pipes in these areas. I have spoken to the chief engineer of PHE and asked him to sanction additional funds,” said Mr Choudhury claimed. (END)