Landslide near source disrupts water supply to capital

SUPPLY EXPECTED TO BE RESTORED BY SATURDAY
GANGTOK, 12 April: Additional Chief Secretary, R Ongmu, chaired a meeting at the Secretariat today to discuss the water supply problem being faced by the people here due to a major slide at 12th km along the Ratey Chu [source] to Selep axis on the night of 10 April damaging and disrupting the raw water transmission lines towards Selep tank water reservoir.
The Additional Chief Secretary took stock of the situation and has directed the concerned department and district administration to gear up to ensure that the people of Gangtok and adjoining areas
who are supplied with water from the Selep tank water reservoir are supplied with safe drinking water. The meeting was also attended by Mayor [Gangtok Municipal Corporation], Councilors, District Collector [East], Superintendent of Police [East] and officers from Water Security and Public Health Engineering Department [WS&PHED].
Thereafter, immediately another meeting to deal with the modalities for the supply of water to Gangtok and adjoining areas was held at the District Control Room situated at MG Marg, Gangtok which was Chaired by KN Topgay [Mayor, GMC]  and attended by the DC [East], SP [East] and the officials of the PHE Department. The officials of the PHE informed about the vehicles already hired by the department for the supply of water to the affected areas. The distribution plan for immediate supply of water to the affected areas was prepared by the officials.
The meeting decided to distribute water Ward wise under monitoring by the respective Councilors and support of the line department of PHE, Police and district administration. These include Arithang [Opposite Rai Cottage], DPH [taxi stand], Upper Sichey [above DC office], Tibet Road [opposite BL house], Syari [beside Cooperative society], Tathangchen [Guards ground], Kazi Road [above Assembly], Baluwakhani [Forest Colony Road], Lower Sichey [below MB Thapa’s house], Lall Bazaar [besides Denzong Cinema Hall], Development Area [Super Market], Burtuk [besides Vajra Cinema Hall], Chandmari [Taxi Stand], Deorali [opposite Forest Secretariat], Daragoan [Convey Ground], Tadong [opposite Sikkim Manipal] and Gangtok Bazaar at MG Marg and New Market. Total number of 21 vehicles has been deployed for the supply of water including 04 from the Army and 02 from Airport Authority of India [AAI], Pakyong, it was informed.
Addressing the press after the meeting the officials informed that the restoration of the pipe line started since the morning of 11 April and the work is still going on. At the present pace the restoration work is likely to be restored by the evening of 13 April whereas the normal supply of water is expected to begin only by the evening of 14 April.
It was also informed that the distribution of water through trucks and tanks will be continued till the normal distribution of water from the PHE pipeline is restored and additional trucks and tanks will be requisitioned in case of requirement. The District Administration has requested the consumers to make judicious use of water and to properly boil the water for drinking purpose. It has also asked the consumers to contact the Control Room on its number 03592-204995 to ensure adequate supply of water in their locality.
Additional Chief Engineer, WS&PHE Department, TT Bhutia speaking to NOW! stated that adequate men and machinery has been already deployed in the slide area to restore the damaged raw water
mains.
The slide that took place on the night of 10 April at Charcharay Khola has damaged a total of six raw water pipelines and currently to suffice the immediate need of the people the department is using flexible pipes which were procured last year during the earthquake for temporary supply of water.
The department considering the health of the people has also used chlorine liquid in the water being temporarily distributed through trucks, in the meanwhile the department has requested the general
public to boil the water before consuming it for their own safety.