Siliguri, 29th May: Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb has announced a temporary prohibition on the drinking water supply in municipal areas from May 29th until the afternoon of June 2nd due to contamination.
Reports indicate that a decrease in Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) has led to contamination of the drinking water supply. While water would continue to be supplied daily in municipal areas, city residents are strongly advised against consuming it. However, the supplied water remains suitable for other purposes besides drinking.
On Wednesday, Mayor Gautam Deb addressed the issue at a press conference held in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) and stated that water samples have been dispatched to Kolkata for testing, and the results are expected to be available in five days. Meanwhile, the water should not be consumed until the reports arrive.
To address the issue, the corporation has arranged for alternative drinking water sources, including the distribution of 1,00,000 water pouches. Additionally, 15,000 to 20,000 pouches would be distributed in each of the five boroughs, and drinking water tankers would be dispatched to every ward.
In response, Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh criticized Mayor Gautam Deb, alleging a failure in municipal governance. He highlighted that residents have been consuming contaminated water for the past 15 to 16 days, holding the Mayor and the Municipal Council accountable for the situation.