Howrah, 2 April (H.S.): The collapse of the Belgachia dumping ground has wreaked havoc in several parts of Howrah, leading to severe drainage system failures. As a result, dirty water has accumulated in multiple wards, causing significant distress among residents. The situation has worsened as the contamination has mixed with drinking water, sparking outrage among locals.

The collapse of the Belgachia dumping ground last month severely damaged the underground pipelines, disrupting the supply of potable water. Additionally, the drainage system in the affected areas has crumbled, leading to severe waterlogging in Howrah Municipal Corporation’s wards 7, 8, and 9. Some areas are submerged in ankle-deep water, while others have knee-high water stagnation. Reports suggest that residents have been facing this problem for over ten days, struggling with unbearable stench and unhygienic conditions.

North Howrah MLA Gautam Chaudhuri on Wednesday said, The municipal corporation lacks the necessary infrastructure to resolve the drainage crisis. The KMDA (Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority) is the only body capable of handling this task.

In response to the crisis, the municipal corporation has deployed pumps to drain the stagnant water. However, locals fear that the contaminated water mixing with the drinking supply could lead to serious health hazards.

Residents like Rumpa Das reported that dirty water has even seeped into their homes, making daily life unbearable. Another resident, Tiya Ghosh, pointed out that drain cleaning is not done regularly, further exacerbating the situation. Laxmikant Bhandari, another affected local, mentioned that even before the dump collapse, waterlogging was common during monsoons, but now the situation has worsened drastically.

Authorities have assured that efforts are underway to restore normalcy. The state’s Urban Development Minister, Firhad Hakim, has pledged that families who lost their homes in the disaster will be provided housing under the Bangla Awas Yojana scheme. The administration is working on emergency measures to clear the stagnant water and repair the drainage infrastructure as quickly as possible.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh