MC to create demo zone for canal-based water supply

Ludhiana: Though the tenders for the 24x7 canal-based water supply funded with the help of the World Bank are yet to be floated, the officials have started preparing for the project. First, they are going to create a demonstration zone where 24x7 water will be supplied in a pattern which would be followed once the project is commissioned at ground level. A private contractor will be hired to provide water meters in each household and then check the water consumption as well as collect bills according to usage. However, this proposal will be put up in the next municipal corporation (MC) general house meeting.
As many as 22,000 connections are identified in the periphery of the city where it is possible to make changes. The officials, however, are refusing to divulge details about these areas stating that it would create unnecessary problems and political interference in the matter.
Additional commissioner of MC, Aaditya Dachalwal said, “World Bank had included the condition that a demonstration zone should be created before project implementation and we were asked to create it for 10,000 connections, but we have done it for 22,000.” He said they will take up the issue in the MC general house for discussion and approval.
This Rs 3,200 crore, long-awaited project is being funded by the World Bank. It took a long time to finalise the location for establishing the water treatment plant (WTP), because it is the first step for the project. Once WTP is established, the authorities will move ahead with the work of laying the water supply lines from WTP to city points. After trying various villages, the officials finally gave a go ahead to Bilga village.
According to the civic officials they are drawing ground water from over 1,000 tube wells for providing water to the city residents whereas this much water is not being recharged back into the ground. Therefore, surface water is required and moreover in some places harmful chemicals were also found mixed in the ground water.