Sikkim: Namchi PHE’s main water pipeline trunk swept away during landslide

Assistant engineer PHE, Sonam Karthak also highlighted the difficulties posed by the ongoing rainfall and heavy fog, which may further impede the restoration efforts

The main water pipeline trunk of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department in Namchi was swept away last night by heavy rainfall triggered landslide near Ravangla Bypass, close to Ravangla town. The incident has left the town facing severe water scarcity, and the restoration process is expected to be challenging due to continuous rainfall and heavy fog, which pose hazards to the builders involved.

Assistant Engineer of PHE, Namchi subdivision, Sonam Karthak, expressed concern over the worsening conditions caused by the landslide. However, he assured the public that the PHE department is committed to the restoration of the pipeline within the next 3-4 days. Assistant engineer Karthak also highlighted the difficulties posed by the ongoing rainfall and heavy fog, which may further impede the restoration efforts.

Last year, in June, a similar incident occurred, resulting in the sweeping away of the water trunk. As a consequence, the entire town had to rely on water supplied by the PHE department through trucks and tankers for over a month.

Karthak attributed the recurring incidents to negligence on the part of NHDCIL and Nagen company during the construction of the national highway and tunnels along the pipelines. This year’s landslide was also a result of the same company’s negligence during hill-cutting, according to Karthak.

Although, there is no public complaints for the threat to their homes and farms, the PHE department has indicated that manpower has already been deployed to connect 6-inch pipelines, ensuring a minimum water supply to the residents of Namchi. However, the connection through perennial water sources, previously prepared by the PHE department, will not be sufficient to support the town due to water scarcity in those sources caused by delayed monsoon this year, as informed by Assitant engineer Sonam Karthak.

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