Siliguri water woes: People stand in long queues after authorities find supplied water unfit to drink

Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], May 30 : Amid the massive water crisis, people in Siliguri were spotted standing in long queues before private drinking water suppliers to buy water on Thursday.
The situation arose after Siliguri Municipal Corporation authorities requested the residents not to drink the water supplied by the corporation.
Earlier today, Municipal Corporation (SMC)'s Mayor Gautam Dev said on Wednesday that the civic body was drawing water from the Mahananda River via Fulbari pump station instead of Teesta because of the embankment repair works at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri that were damaged by recent flash floods.
As the quality of the water is bad and the level of Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD) is quite high, it has been prohibited to drink by Corporation authorities. However, the water can be used for other household purposes, he said.
"After receiving a report that found the BOD level is slightly high, we requested the people of Siliguri not to take the supply water for drinking purposes until further notice," Gautam Dev said.
Residents, however, said they are finding it difficult to cope with the situation.
"It's becoming very tough to arrange drinking water after the declaration by the Corporation regarding the ban on drinking water supply. They should take the issue seriously and finish the work as early as possible," Ratikanta Sarkar, a resident of Siliguri, said.