Govt to NGT: Funds crunch hits water projects

Kolkata: The Bengal govt informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that several mega surface water-based drinking water projects aimed at tackling arsenic contamination in North 24 Parganas are running behind schedule because of fund shortages, land acquisition hurdles and delays in securing clearances from multiple agencies. Earlier, green-crusader Subhas Datta said that most of the arsenic mitigation works have long been completely stalled because of absence of funds In an affidavit filed before the eastern zone bench of the NGT, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) directorate admitted the projects were affected by "acute paucity of funds" since Oct 2024, apart from disruptions during the Lok Sabha elections, monsoon and Durga Puja period.The affidavit, filed by senior superintending engineer Aditi Basu Majumder in connection with original detailing the progress of multiple mega piped water supply schemes meant to provide arsenic-free drinking water in affected districts. The affidavit says, the integrated surface water-based piped water supply scheme covering Baduria, Basirhat I and II, Deganga and Swarupnagar blocks in North 24 Parganas has achieved around 70% overall physical progress and is now expected to be completed by March 31, 2028.