Central initiative to provide potable water connections to every household in West Bengal, has hit a roadblock. Despite the state government funding nearly 90% of the project, many households don’t receiving water, even with taps installed.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attributed this issue to the lack of checks on sufficient water sources before the project began. Contractors installed pipes without verifying water availability, resulting in many households still lacking water. She has ordered an investigation and instructed officials to take strict action against any obstructions.
A deadline to provide connections to 17.5 million households by April next year has been set. She also expressed concerns about water misuse, directing authorities to take action against diversions to multi-story buildings and agricultural use. To address the shortage of engineers, Banerjee suggested hiring from state agencies and creating guidelines for recruiting temporary staff.
