The West Bengal government has reported to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that several major drinking water projects in North 24 Parganas, designed to combat arsenic contamination, are significantly delayed due to a lack of funds, land acquisition challenges, and delays in obtaining necessary clearances from various agencies. In an affidavit submitted by Aditi Basu Majumder, senior superintending engineer of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) directorate, it was stated that these projects have been suffering from an 'acute paucity of funds' since October 2024. Additionally, disruptions caused by the Lok Sabha elections, the monsoon season, and the Durga Puja festivities have further hampered progress. The integrated surface water-based piped water supply scheme, which aims to provide arsenic-free drinking water to affected districts, has made about 70% physical progress. The government now expects the project to be completed by March 31, 2028, which is critical for ensuring safe drinking water for residents in the impacted regions.