PHE Secy leads trek to scout water sources to augment supply for Namchi

NAMCHI: Secretary Water Security and Public Health Engineering Department, TB Rajalim, led a two-day trek into the mountains above Ravangla to seek out new sources and inspect the existing water tapping infrastructure there to figure out ways and means to augment the water supply situation for Namchi.
The Secretary was accompanied on the inspection by Additional CE, TT Bhutia, SE (S/W) BP Kharel, DE, DC Khatiwara, DE (South) Rajdeep Rai, AE (Ravangla) Saurav Lepcha and JE (Ravangla) Sunil Rai.
The trek first headed for the Bermeley source where water is currently being tapped for supply to Namchi.
The tour started on 08 April at 8:30 a.m. from Ravangla and reached Bermeley after four hours of trekking the team. Bermeley is situated at 8,300 ft.

Here the team discussed various possibilities of improving the existing headwork system and intake structures by modernizing the system to increase the discharge of water to Namchi.
The team then trekked further up the rough and treacherous terrain in search of new sources. A number of small streams were discovered along the way and the sources of Kalikhola, Thothney, Jalikhola, Neopaney and Dhapper khola.
After trekking for another five hours, the team struck camp at Dhapper. The next morning, the team visited Khola Khanka which is the last source in the area. On the way back, various possibilities of tapping new sources to add to the present water supply system were discussed.
The Ravangla sub-division has now been instructed to immediately start work on preparing an estimate on the new options discussed. News of the latest effort has brought some cheer to Namchi which continues to struggle with inadequate water supply.
[PURAN TAMANG]