At the KMC session on Wednesday, the Opposition demanded a probe into the crisis saying that there was shortage of water in the area despite the fact that there are several booster pumping stations in the area.

Holding the civic body responsible for the crisis, leader of the Opposition Javed Khan said: “If we can supply water to other municipalities like Maheshtala and Budge Budge, then why the residents of the south Kolkata are deprived of filtered water. There are four booster-pumping stations in south Kolkata, but the water pressure has dropped to a great extent. It is an artificial crisis created by the Left Front-led civic body.”

Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, however, denied the allegations and said that these are nothing but a way of politicising the water crisis as the Lok Sabha polls are round the corner.

“The water crisis is natural as we are not able to get enough water from the Hooghly since there are some technical problems. We have taken up several projects. Some of them are long term projects and will take time. Terming the crisis as an artificial one shows the narrow mindedness of a frustrated leader. The water crisis took place everywhere irrespective of any political colour,” said Bhattacharya.

Meanwhile, Firhad Hakim, Trinamool Congress leader, pointed out that the reservoir at Park Circus booster pumping station has developed serious cracks that has led to leakage of drinking water. “We have asked the water supply department several times to take a prompt action to stop the leakage of drinking water, but to no avail,” he said.