KMC looking to boost filtered water supply in Tollygunj, Jadavpur

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is taking a slew of measures for improving the supply of filtered water in Tollygunj and Jadavpur areas and at the same time, minimising the use of groundwater through big diameter tubewell.

"Our emphasis will be to overhaul the supply of filtered water in parts of Tollygunj, Jadavpur and Garia, where the pressure of water is relatively low in comparison to other parts of the city. We have taken up several projects and most of them will be completed in a year," said Mayor Firhad Hakim.

Elaborating on the steps taken in this regard, a senior official of the Water Supply department said that a 1,000 mm dedicated pipeline is being laid from James Long Sarani to Deshapran Sasmal Road for transportation of treated surface water from Garden Reach Waterworks.

The capacity of Bansdroni Booster Pumping Station reservoir has been increased by an additional 1.2 million gallon by constructing a new reservoir. "We will soon complete laying of 1,000 mm diameter dedicated pipeline at Raja Rammohan Roy Road in Behala, to feed the new reservoir," the official said.

The construction of a small booster pumping station at Bangur Park in ward 93 and Babubagan in ward 92 has already started. A reservoir with additional capacity of 2 million gallon is being constructed inside the campus of Anandapur Booster Pumping Station to improve water supply in the adjacent areas.

The Water Supply department has also taken up projects to reduce exploitation of groundwater with big diameter tubewells and to ensure supply of treated surface water. A booster pumping station of 3.2 million gallon capacity is coming up at Subhash Pally in ward 111, while another reservoir of 0.25 million capacity is being set up near the Japan Consulate office in ward 97.

"Four small booster pumping stations with reservoir are being constructed at Panchannagram in ward 107, Kayasthapara in ward 106, Panchasayar in ward 109 and Achena Park in ward 101. We are hopeful of reducing groundwater extraction considerably once these projects are completed," the official added.

Some works have already been taken up in other parts of the city for minimising groundwater extraction that includes construction of an underground reservoir cum booster pumping station of 3 million gallon capacity at Shakuntala Park, which is expected to be completed by October 2019.

Soon after taking over as the Mayor of Kolkata in December last year, Firhad Hakim has stressed upon stopping extraction of ground water totally in the city. He has already held a meeting with the state Water Resources Investigation department and will soon come out with a scientific action plan.

Hakim, who placed the budget for the 2019-20 fiscal, has proposed an allocation of Rs 406.89 crore for development of water supply.