SILCHAR, July 14 - Disgusted with the unabated supply of contaminated drinking water for a long time owing to an alleged leakage in the PHE pipeline, the taxpaying residents of greater Bilpar and Radha Madhav road within ward number 10 of Silchar took to the streets on Friday against the supply of mud-mixed water and staged a road blockade at Hospital Road.
�It has been for a long time now that we are facing such a mess with supply of drinking water. If crores of money can be spent to organise Namami Barak to worship the river with promises to clean and navigate waterways, we fail to understand what ails the government to mend the leaked pipeline which is causing great difficulty to everyone,� said Bikash Paul, a local resident. The agitated locals have thoroughly condemned the role of the BJP-led Silchar Civic Board in responding to the demands on the issue.
On the other hand, chairman of the Silchar Municipal Board Niharendra Narayan Tagore has assured the annoyed locals that steps would be taken to provide clean and safe drinking water within 15 days. �I am aware of the situation and the officials have been given clear instructions to plunge into restoration work on a war footing,� Tagore told the protesters.
Later, the blockade which led to heavy traffic congestion along the road stretch for three hours was lifted following the assurances from the Civic Board chairman.
