Mayor Gautam Deb announced on Sunday that the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) area would encounter a drinking water shortage lasting two weeks, beginning on May 10. This scarcity is a result of planned repair work by the state irrigation department on the Teesta river embankment at Gajoldoba, situated approximately 25km away.
The repair is deemed necessary following significant damage caused downstream by a flash flood on October 4 last year. This flood adversely affected the river’s embankment and disrupted aquatic life due to the influx of silt. Given that the Teesta canal serves as the primary water source for the SMC, the repair works will directly impact the corporation’s water supply infrastructure.
Consequently, the SMC is compelled to explore alternative water sources, such as the Mahananda river. However, the uncertain water levels in the Mahananda pose challenges, potentially exacerbating the water supply shortage.
To address this, the SMC has devised contingency plans to distribute drinking water through alternative means, including deploying water tankers and distributing water pouches across all 47 wards. The repair work, authorized by the Election Commission to commence prior to the onset of the monsoon season, is slated to commence in the upcoming week.
