Kolkata: Tala tank to shed Raj-era red, turn blue-white

KOLKATA: The century-old Tala tank will soon shed its burnt red hue to don the city's blue-&-white colour theme.
With the restoration of the world's largest mild steel overhead water tank complete, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation will now spend Rs 14 crore on 1.3 lakh litres of special paint to coat the giant heritage structure. Inaugurated in 1911, Tala tank continues to be the lifeline of the city's water supply system.

The funds to procure the expensive paint, ingredients of which are being imported to ensure it resists UV rays and retains lustre for at least 15 years, has already been sanctioned, say KMC officials.
According to a KMC water supply department official, the polyurethane (PU) paint will offer a tough and durable coating that will protect the 110-foot-tall super-structure against extreme elements of weather, including heat, wind and rain.'Fresh paint to add durability & gloss'
The Raj-era tank has withstood three earthquakes and three major cyclonic storms, including the monstrous Amphan of May 2020.
The four large interior chambers have been coated with special food-grade paint that is both non-toxic and anti-corrosive. The chambers can store 3.6 crore litres of potable water supplied from Palta waterworks.
'Fresh paint to add durability & gloss'
The restoration of the historic Tala tank had commenced in June 2017 with a deadline of January 2020. But the Rs 80-crore project suffered a delay due to the pandemic. The project cost was revised to Rs 100 crore.
"We have finished painting of the chambers that have undergone a restoration process. Now we are concentrating on painting the superstructure, which is long overdue. A fresh coat of paint will not only give the structure strength and durability, but the glossy paint will attract the attention of tourists visiting the city," said a civic official associated with the restoration of the iconic tank. Painting the mammoth structure will take a few months, said the official.
"With the completion of the restoration project, we are ready to cater to the drinking water needs of large parts of the city uninterrupted during the peak of summer," said a KMC water supply department official.