Water Supply Reservoir Land In Silchar Allegedly Reassigned For Anganwadi, Locals Blame MLA’s Role

Locals of Barakpar Part 2 area of Kanakpur in Silchar raised a complaint that a plot of land earmarked for a reservoir under a water supply scheme was allegedly reassigned for setting up an Anganwadi Centre, without the intimation or consent of the elected Water Supply and Sanitation Committee.

The land in question, they said, falls within the premises of a Public Health Engineering (PHE) water supply plant under Silchar PHE Division-II and was earlier sanctioned for the construction of a reservoir under the Jal Jeevan Mission. However, locals claimed that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued by the plant engineer and the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) to open a pre-primary Anganwadi Centre inside the plant premises, bypassing the committee.

The President of the Barakpar Water Supply and Sanitation Committee expressed strong resentment over the move, stating that the committee—elected by nearly 1,000 consumers dependent on the plant—was kept completely in the dark.

“There is a committee in place that represents the consumers, and the land was sanctioned specifically for a reservoir. Reassigning it without informing us can lead to law and order issues and disturb social harmony in the area,” he said on Wednesday (January 7).

Angry locals alleged that Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty was behind the decision. They clarified that while they welcomed the idea of an Anganwadi Centre for early childhood education, the location chosen posed serious concerns.

“Children inside a water supply plant, near heavy machinery and open water sources, is a safety risk. This is the only PHE plant serving a large population. If needed, we are ready to donate land elsewhere—so why take land meant for a reservoir?” a local said.

Senior Congress leader Abhijit Paul also visited the site and extended support to the locals’ demand for relocation of the Anganwadi Centre.

“I thank the Silchar MLA for thinking about children’s education, which is commendable. But another reservoir is also necessary for this area. I support the demand that the Anganwadi Centre be shifted outside the plant, and people are willing to provide alternate land,” Paul said.

Locals and land donors have announced that they will soon meet the District Commissioner and submit a formal memorandum demanding the relocation of the Anganwadi Centre, citing public safety concerns and the critical importance of uninterrupted water supply for hundreds of families dependent on the plant.