Kolkata, 13 December (H.S.) :
Panskura municipality in East Medinipur district of West Bengal has once again come under focus over its long-standing drinking water crisis. Classified as a groundwater “red zone,” the area faces acute water shortages every summer, making water management a sensitive and critical issue for residents.
While an ambitious long-term drinking water project aimed at addressing the crisis is currently underway, the recent installation of multiple submersible pumps across municipal wards has triggered political and civic debate. Critics argue that indiscriminate extraction of groundwater in a red zone could further aggravate the situation in the coming years.
Panskura municipality comprises 18 wards. Under the state government’s flagship initiative “Hamaar Para, Hamaar Samadhan,” applications were received for installing several submersible pumps in each ward. According to municipal sources, most of these applications have already been approved, and installation work is progressing rapidly across the town.
However, the move has raised concerns among sections of residents and opposition leaders, who believe that prioritising submersible pumps contradicts the red zone classification of the area. They argue that excessive dependence on groundwater, especially in a region already identified as water-stressed, could deepen the crisis instead of resolving it.
Parallel to this, the state Urban Development Department has approved a major drinking water project for Panskura, described as a permanent solution to the town’s water woes. Under this project, water will be drawn from the Rupnarayan river at Kolaghat, treated at a modern purification plant, and then supplied across the municipal area.
The project has received substantial financial backing. In the first phase, ₹115 crore has been sanctioned, while an additional ₹85 crore is proposed for the second phase. Recently, the Land Department handed over 3.04 acres of land at Uttar Mechagram Mouza to the municipality for setting up the water treatment plant, marking a key administrative milestone.
Despite this progress, concerns remain over the pace of implementation. A section of residents feels that instead of installing new submersible pumps, the administration should expedite the completion of the large-scale water supply project to ensure sustainable access to drinking water.
Former councillor and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sintu Senapati alleged that public funds are being misused by giving priority to short-term measures over a centrally funded long-term project. “When there is not enough groundwater available, what is the logic behind installing more submersible pumps in a red zone area?” he questioned.
Responding to the criticism, former Panskura chairperson Nandakumar Mishra said the submersible pumps are being installed strictly based on public demand. According to him, the objective is to provide immediate relief to residents facing acute water shortages, while work on the larger water project continues.
As Panskura grapples with balancing short-term relief and long-term sustainability, the controversy has highlighted the broader challenge of managing water resources in groundwater-depleted urban areas. The coming months are expected to be crucial in determining whether the municipality can align immediate needs with a sustainable water future.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
