Namchi, 16th June, 2023: The public of Namchi area may have to face a lot of water scarcity for next few weeks. Namchi PHE's main pipeline trunk was reportedly swept down last night due to the landslide owing to a heavy rainfall, in Ravangla Bypass, near Ravangla town.
It is the second occurrence of water trunk being swept away by landslide in that area, and the Assistant Engineer of PHE, Namchi Subdivision, Sonam Karthak, have said that the condition is worse than before.
It was on June month of the year 2021, the same water trunk was swept away by the landslide, and the whole town had to survive on water provided by PHE department through trucks and tankers, for more than a month's period. And the AE of PHE Namchi Subdivision, had a blame on the negligence of NHDCIL and Nagen Company while building national highway and tunnels along the pipelines. This year too, the weak landform was caught by landslide due to the negligence of the same company during hill-cutting, the AE have said.
Although, there is no public complaints for the threat to their homes and farms like before, the PHE department have informed that the manpower have already been posted for the connection of 6inches pipelines for providing minimum amount of water to the public of Namchi.
However, the connection through perennial sources of water, prepared by PHE department earlier, will not be able to support the town, because of the lacking of water on those sources, owing to the late monsoon this year, the AE have also informed.
Although, AE Karthak, have promised minimum restoration of water in PHE in next 3-4 days, the continuous rainfall and the heavy fog may effect the restoration of pipelines, and the process still remains hazardous to the life of the builders.
