Supply falls short as demand for drinking water surges in Kolkata

KOLKATA: The prolonged phase of scorching weather has set demand for drinking water soaring at homes and markets. Those supplying the water are now struggling to meet the demand. At many places, tankers of the civic body, NGOs and even private suppliers are providing water to bridge the demand-supply gap.
Long queues in front of water taps of KMC on pavements have become a common sight even in the afternoons while several market stall owners have been taking extra supply via water tankers either from the civic body or NGOs. Many NGOs and individuals have been distributing water in the busy pockets of the city.
"Drinking water consumption has doubled in the last two weeks due to the weather. Earlier, we would buy a 20L can of packaged water. But now even two cans prove inadequate. The person who provides us with cans said he will not be able to provide two cans as he has a lot of orders he is unable to meet," said Mahesh Chugani, who has a footwear shop on Bertram Street.
Several people in the business of supplying packaged water to shops and markets in the central business district said the demand has increased three fold. "The KMC water supply is very good in this part of the city, so our clients were mainly shop owners and small markets without private water connections. But since the mercury started rising, we have been receiving orders even from homes. Earlier, we would supply close to 125-150 water cans every day. Now the orders have exceeded 500 cans. But we are unable to procure and transport that much," said Mohammad Shabbir, a distributor of a packaged drinking water brand on New CIT Road.
In some pockets on the southeastern fringes of the city, like Jadavpur, Baghajatin, Ganguly Bagan, Naktala and Garia, several homes still buy drinking water. Many residents said the suppliers were struggling to meet the orders.
"The person who brings water cans says he was unable to meet the supply due to the rise in demand. Erratic supply is also causing delay in delivery," said Bapi Ghosh, a resident of Garia.