Gangtok, February 11 In view of the severe water shortage at various points due to inadequate rainfall during winter, water supply in the serviced areas of the state capital will be limited to once a day, a senior official said on Wednesday.
Engineers from the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) are conducting a trial run to regulate water supply in different areas of the state capital, and it will become operational once the mechanism is finalized, he said.
"We will supply water in the service zones in Gangtok, and only once a day, due to the acute scarcity of this natural resource," PHED Secretary Sailendra Sharma told reporters here.
Since drinking water is essential for life, domestic use must take priority, and accordingly, commercial establishments must reduce their activities marginally during this critical period, he said.
Given the prevailing water scarcity due to the drying up of natural sources due to months of lack of rainfall, it is imperative to reduce wastage, as continued dry conditions may lead to a severe shortage in the coming months.
In view of the prevailing situation, all households are requested to adopt measures to avoid wastage and consider installing float valves to ensure even flow to houses with lower pressure if the tanks overflow due to higher differential pressure, he said.
Any wastage detected may invite strict action, Sharma warned.
"Together, through responsible use and collective effort, we can safeguard this vital resource and ensure equitable access for every household," the PHED official said.
It may be mentioned that Gangtok has been facing a water crisis for some time due to the unprecedented situation of insufficient rainfall since November last year.
Under the directions of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, a project under ADB funding for bringing water from alternate sources is already in an advanced stage of completion.