The politics of potable water

kolkata, April 24 Twelve-year-old Sumita of Lebugola in Beliaghta does not clean her utensils the way others do. She first wipes the vessels with a moist cloth dipped in soapy water and then dips all the utensils one by one in a small bucket. Sumita has learnt it the hard way. Don’t waste what you don’t have. In this case, water.

But Sumita is among the lucky few. She resides in a ward that has a CPM councillor. Even if water supply here is not in abundance, it is not a rarity. Councillor Rajib Biswas, with help from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), has taken few positive steps to ensure the improvement in water supply. “New pipes have been laid and more taps installed but it is still not enough,” says a resident of the area.

Besides, at times when the taps go dry, Biswas uses his clout to supplement the supply with tankers of the municipality.

Residents of Bidhan colony in Bagmari, however, are not as fortunate. There is only one corporation tap for 100 people. Earlier, the tap supplied water for five hours a day, which has now gone down to three hours. Residents complain that water only trickles down the tap. “ I am tired of asking the KMC for three more taps,” says Trinamool councillor Swapan Samadder.

The situation is slightly different in Tangra, ward number 57. New underground pipes and a new booster station at New Park have given fresh hopes to the residents who earlier had to struggle for water. “The quality of water has improved, but what’s the use. The quantity has reduced drastically,” says Dilip Singh, a resident.

The KMC has 45 water tankers that are capable of supplying water across the city. The service is free in areas facing scarcity of water. The tankers can be sent to areas as many times as required during the day or even at night. “We are building water treatment plants at Dhapa that will help improve the scenario,” said Member, Mayor-in-Council, Water, Mrinal Kanti Mondol.

There is another angle to the crisis. While water tankers visit Kulia Tangra road twice daily, the residents of New Government colony in Behala have to purchase drinking water. As the new booster station takes off in Tangra, the booster station at Shiriti Park is already running behind schedule.

The water-divide is clear as the supply is often influenced by the colour of the party a particular locality has chosen. The people who have cast votes to elect their representatives are now caught in the politics of water. Krishna Singh and Anita Kar Majumder, TMC councillors of wards 113 and 116, respectively, complain of “step-motherly” attitude.