KMC looks to phase out deep tubewells in bid to reduce groundwater dependence

Kolkata: At a time when the state government is laying emphasis on reducing dependence on groundwater, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is working on a comprehensive plan to gradually replace big dia tubewells in the city.

The Water Supply department of the civic body has started work for coming up with capsule booster pumping stations at different parts of the city, in a bid to replace the deep tubewells.

"There are two deep tubewells located in ward 85 in and around Deshapriya Park. One is located at Dover Lane while another is near Tridhara Akalbodhon Club. The capsule booster pumping station inside the premises of Deshapriya Park with a reservoir capacity of 0.3 million gallons will contribute in replacing the two tubewells. We are expecting to make the pumping station operational from January 2020," a senior official of KMC's Water Supply department said.

According to the official, this will also ensure smooth water pressure even in the households located in the interior areas of the ward.

Similar work with the same objective is also being undertaken in Chetla in the ward of Mayor Firhad Hakim and at Mansatala ward 77 in Kidderpore area.

Such capsule booster pumping stations have already come up at Harish Park in Bhowanipore, Nagendra Udyan in Behala, Airport Road in Behala, Netajinagar and Naktala in the added areas of the city.

"We are gradually moving towards replacing all deep tubewells in the city with groundwater depleting at a rapid pace. This is a global problem and if we do not take measures to address the issue, our future generations may reel under severe water crisis," said Mayor Firhad Hakim.

There are 369 deep tubewells in the city at present, mostly located in the added areas that include Jadavpur and Tollygunge. 132 deep tubewells exist in Borough X of the civic body, which comprise wards 81, 89, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99.

According to the data of the Water Supply department, there are 54 tubewells in Borough XI, 71 in Borough XII, 13 in Borough XIII, 21 in Borough XIV, 11 in XV, 24 in XVI, 26 in VII, 9 in VIII, 5 in IX, only 2 in VI and one in III. Boroughs I, II, IV and V do not have a single deep tubewell.