Wednesday, 11 June 2008

ITALIAN PROJECT

Italian team visits Cooch Behar to end water scarcity

 

COOCH BEHAR, June 11: The water scarcity in Cooch Behar town may turn into a thing of past. It may be possible with the financial assistance extended by the Italian government. Using that fund the Cooch Behar Municipality will construct nine overhead water reservoirs in the town to ensure regular water supply to the citizens. The civic body is going to get an Italian assistance to the tune of Rs 16-crore to implement this ambitious plan.

 

Today, a four-member Italian technical team visited Cooch Behar and talked with the chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality, Mr Biren Kundu. In the visiting team there were Mr Matteo Bellotta, Mr Fabio Berarbi and Mr Claudio Serrili. They discussed the proposed Italian project with the chairman and assured of extending required technical expertise and assistance.

 

Chairman of Cooch Behar Municipality Mr Biren Kundu said, under the Italian project they are going to add nine overhead reservoirs in the town. Presently, there are only two that are in working condition. Another two are under construction. As the citizens have to suffer from inadequate supply of water especially during the summer months the civic body will erect additional reservoirs to draw an end to the problem. The town will be divided into six zones to implement the programme.

 

Not only overhead reservoirs but also water treatment plants like chlorinating plant and iron removal plant will be installed under the Italian project. There will be a surface water treatment plant. In this plant water lifted from Torsa river will be scientifically treated to make it usable. These schemes may better the existing situation of drinking water supply facility in the twenty wards of the town, the chairman hoped.

 

On the otherhand, some citizens, mostly women, staged a demonstration today demanding an end to the water scarcity in the town. The Forward Bloc organised the demonstration in front of the municipal office at Shahid Baag. []

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