Kolkata Municipal Corporation plans 2 booster stations in parched pockets of Garfa and Tollygunge

KOLKATA: In a bid to augment water supply in some of the city's parched pockets and discourage the use of groundwater, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's water supply department is set to construct capsule booster pumping stations in some areas where residents face scarcity of water.
Proposals for two such stations were passed in the mayor-in-council meeting earlier this week. While one of the stations will come up at Jadavgarh in Garfa-Haltu belt, the other will be constructed in Netajinagar area under Tollygunge-Jadavpur belt.
A KMC water supply department official said they have sought necessary funds for the construction of these capsule booster pumping stations that will help the residents of Tollygunge and Haltu-Garfa areas get rid of the groundwater, the quality of which is often questioned.
Sources in the KMC water supply department said that while the proposed semi-underground reservoir-cum-water booster pumping station in Haltu will cater to the people of Jadavgarh, Baidyapara, Asutosh Colony, Sarat Bose colony among other areas with pure drinking water needs, the other pumping station to be constructed at Subhas Pally Park will cater to the residents of parts of Netajinagar and Sri Colony.
"Residents in both Jadavgargh and some parts of Netajinagar still depend on groundwater. As we have decided to stop the use of groundwater, we can't allow sinking of more tube-wells in these crisis pockets. The councillor, Arup Chakraborty, who represents large parts of Netajinagar and its adjacent neighbourhoods, has been instrumental in sanctioning finance from the government for the Subhas Pally water project. If everything goes well, we will be able to wind up the construction work by next year," said a civic official.
The civic body is also procuring water pipes in large volumes to cater to the residents in large parts of added areas and mitigate the scarcity of water during the peak of summer.
"We have sought funds from the civic authorities to procure water pipes that will be laid in several neighbourhoods located off Eastern Metropolitan Bypass and other added areas. The aim is to offer relief to residents during the summer. The civic body is also procuring water pipes to replace the old, worn-out ones to supply more water to added areas," said the official.