Kolkata: KMC will try to divert potable water supply through alternative pipelines by Friday so that the damaged water pipeline beneath Tala Bridge can be shut down for repairs, civic officials said on Tuesday as large parts of the city continued to grapple with water shortages following the leakage.Sources in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) said more than 150 water tankers were sent to affected areas that include Shyambazar, Paikpara, Bhupen Bose Avenue, parts of Sovabazar, Amherst Street, Keshab Chandra Sen Street, Kumartuli Street, Beltala, Thackeray Road and Garcha Road.KMC sources said the damaged line was about 20ft underground. “Our priority right now is to restore water supply to normal levels. We are now trying to divert water that used to be supplied through the damaged line through other pipelines, including a 1200mm diameter water main that runs alongside the deck of Tala Bridge,” a KMC official said. “The damaged line is still supplying potable water because it cannot be completely shut down without commissioning alternative supply lines,” said an official.Officials said the actual repairs could take at least a week from when it begins. Source added that low water pressure is likely to continue in many parts of south Kolkata for next few days.Residents in areas immediately around Tala water tank said their water supply was not completely cut off, though the flow had decreased. Water supply had been completely cut off in some pockets around Hatibagan and some areas off Bidhan Sarani.Locals near the leakage spot said several households were flooded again on Tuesday morning as water gushed into their homes. Sarala Paik, who stays near Tala Post Office, said, “Water entered our house as the water pressure was slightly increased for a short while. The situation is under control now, but the water pressure is very low,” she said.Mangala Das, another resident from Sashi Bhushan Street, said, “Yesterday we were marooned until evening as water entered our house. The situation improved by evening. On Monday, the supply was suspended for some time, but today it returned to normal, though the water pressure remains very low.”Ritesh Tiwari, Cossipore-Belgachia MLA, who has been at the site since Tuesday morning, said, “Water supply has not been completely suspended considering the festive period, but there was no option other than to reduce the pressure.” “This is an emergency, and during this crisis, we have not completely cut off the supply — only reduced the flow,” he said.Pramila Das, a resident of Shyampukur Street, said that her family has not had any water since Monday morning. Jhuma Das, who lives near Bidhan Sarani, expressed a similar plight. Nayna Pradhan, a local resident of Raja Nabakrishna Street near Hatibagan, said residents have been forced to buy water for daily household chores as well as for drinking. “We bought two jars of water for household work, spending Rs 30 each, in addition to sealed water bottles. My husband took a bath in the Hooghly, but I had to use our stored water. There are a few functioning municipal taps in our locality, but getting a chance to fill even a single bottle during rush hours was nearly impossible,” she said.Long queues of empty buckets and bottles were seen at several roadside water taps. Arup Bose, an elderly person staying alone near Rajballab Para, said, “I found no water coming from the tap this morning, so I shifted to my daughter’s house for the day.”About 44 million gallons of water is supplied from the Tala water tank campus during each distribution cycle, though the historic Tala tank has a capacity of about 9 million gallons. There are other reservoirs inside the campus. The 1,200mm water line was built a few years ago. The damaged 1,800mm line was built during the British rule, said a KMC official.State urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said residents could contact 9831127522 if water pressure was low, supply was unavailable, or if tankers were yet to arrive.
