Kolkata’s water supply disruption is set to continue as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation prepares to reroute potable water through alternative pipelines before shutting down a damaged line beneath Tala Bridge for repairs. Civic officials said the diversion could be attempted by Friday, while affected neighbourhoods continued to report shortages, low pressure and localised flooding.
More than 150 water tankers have been sent to areas including Shyambazar, Paikpara, Bhupen Bose Avenue, parts of Sovabazar, Amherst Street, Keshab Chandra Sen Street, Kumartuli Street, Beltala, Thackeray Road and Garcha Road, according to KMC sources. Some residents have reported a complete loss of supply, while others have received water at sharply reduced pressure.
The damaged pipeline is located about 20 feet underground and continues to carry potable water because it cannot be fully closed until alternative supply lines are commissioned. A KMC official said the civic body was attempting to divert water through other mains, including a 1,200mm-diameter line running alongside the deck of Tala Bridge.
The scale of the disruption is linked to the role of the Tala water tank campus in the city’s distribution network. About 44 million gallons of water are supplied from the campus during each distribution cycle. The historic Tala tank itself has a capacity of about 9 million gallons, while other reservoirs are also located within the campus.
KMC officials said the damaged 1,800mm pipeline was built during the British period. The 1,200mm alternative line was constructed a few years ago and is now being considered part of the emergency response. The actual repair work could take at least a week from the time it begins, officials said. Low water pressure is expected to continue in several parts of south Kolkata for the next few days.
Residents near the leakage site said water had entered homes again on Tuesday morning after a temporary increase in pressure. Sarala Paik, who lives near Tala Post Office, said water entered her house briefly before the situation came under control, but pressure remained very low. Mangala Das of Sashi Bhushan Street said water had entered her home the previous day and that supply had returned, although at reduced pressure.
The disruption has been uneven across the affected areas. Residents around Tala water tank said their supply had not been completely cut off, while some pockets around Hatibagan and areas off Bidhan Sarani reported a total shutdown. Other residents said they had been forced to buy water for drinking and household use, queue at municipal taps or temporarily move to relatives’ homes.
Ritesh Tiwari, the Cossipore-Belgachia MLA, said supply had not been completely suspended because of the festive period, but that reducing the flow had become necessary. State urban development and municipal affairs minister Agnimitra Paul said residents could contact 9831127522 if water pressure was low, supply was unavailable or tankers had not reached their areas.
KMC’s immediate next step is to commission alternative supply routes and then shut the damaged line for repairs. Officials said the repair period would begin after the diversion is operational and could last at least a week.
