Darjeeling, famed for its lush tea gardens and misty hills, has long grappled with a paradox: abundant rainfall but chronic water scarcity. A ₹1,503-crore infusion under the central government’s AMRUT 2.0 scheme promises to transform the district’s water infrastructure, covering urban centres like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik, and Siliguri. This isn’t just about pipes and ponds—it’s a lifeline for communities battling dry taps, polluted lakes, and political blame games.
The Crisis: Decades of Neglect
Despite receiving over 3,100mm of annual rainfall—nearly triple Bengal’s average—Darjeeling’s water supply remains broken. In Darjeeling town, the demand is 6.07 million gallons daily (MGD), but the municipality supplies just 1.5 MGD during dry spells, leaving a deficit even in monsoons. Siliguri, the district’s largest city, faces similar struggles: 55 million litres of treated water daily against an 80-million-litre demand, forcing residents to rely on tubewells and illegal borings.
The fallout is stark:
- Tourism at Risk: Mirik’s Sumendu Lake, a scenic hotspot, has seen fish deaths due to oxygen depletion from silt buildup.
- Gender Burden: Women and children spend hours queuing at communal taps, a routine that AMRUT 2.0 aims to end with 11,800 new connections in Darjeeling alone.
AMRUT 2.0: The ₹1,503 Cr Blueprint
The Centre’s funding targets three pillars: water supply, sewerage, and lake rejuvenation. Here’s the breakdown:
1. Darjeeling Municipality (₹298.6 Cr)
- ₹238.6 Cr: Completing household tap connections, including Senchal Lake’s new reservoir to boost storage.
- ₹60 Cr: Reviving Sinchel North and South Lakes, critical for Darjeeling’s water supply.
2. Siliguri (₹785.27 Cr)
- ₹511.08 Cr: Phase-I of the Siliguri Water Supply Project, expanding pipelines to 47 wards.
- ₹274.19 Cr: Upgrading Fulbari’s Waste Stabilisation Pond (WSP) to treat sewage more efficiently.
3. Smaller Towns: Kurseong, Mirik, Kalimpong
- Kurseong: ₹210.8 Cr for water supply and lake revival.
- Mirik: ₹10 Cr to desilt Sumendu Lake and ₹2.43 Cr for universal tap coverage.
- Kalimpong: ₹196.57 Cr for water projects and ₹40 lakh for green spaces.
The Ground Reality: Progress and Pitfalls
Phase-I Wins:
- Siliguri’s Gajoldoba treatment plant now draws 2,400 million litres daily from the Teesta River, up from 1,500 million litres after de-silting.
- Emergency measures: There were supply cuts and 36 water tanks and 1 lakh pouches were deployed during Wards 15–24.
Challenges:
- Political Sparring: BJP MP Raju Bista and TMC Mayor Gautam Deb clash over credit, with Deb noting the state funds 61.67% of Siliguri’s project.
- Silt & Delays: Siliguri’s intake wells repeatedly clog, prompting a ₹6.9-cr plan for a backup well.
Voices from the Ground
- Farmers in Kalimpong: Hope irrigation projects will follow water supply upgrades to boost organic farming.
- Siliguri Residents: “We buy water for ₹20 per can daily. If AMRUT 2.0 delivers, it’ll cut our costs by half,” says a Ward 18 shopkeeper.
The Road Ahead
By 2026, AMRUT 2.0 aims to:
- Eliminate Water Inequality: 100% household coverage in Mirik and Darjeeling.
- Boost Tourism: Cleaner lakes like Sumendu could revive Mirik’s hospitality sector.
- Green Cities: Siliguri’s 1.4-acre green space under AMRUT 1.0 will expand.
But success hinges on transparency—avoiding fund diversions like past projects—and community oversight. As Mayor Deb warns, “Central funds alone won’t fix decades of neglect”.
Conclusion: A Watershed Moment
Darjeeling’s water crisis is about more than infrastructure—it’s about dignity, health, and economic survival. AMRUT 2.0’s ₹1,503-cr pledge could be a turning point, but only if politics takes a backseat to execution. Residents now watch, wait, and hope the taps will finally flow.
