To ensure quality drinking water 24X7 and minimize the water losses for holy city Amritsar and industrial hub Ludhiana, the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have approved 300 million US Dollars loan for canal-based drinking water schemes under Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project.
Notably, the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had been pursuing with the Centre to secure World Bank and AIIB loan to ensure clean drinking water to the residents in the two cities. The other two canal-based water supply projects in Jalandhar and Patiala are already under execution.
Currently, Amritsar and Ludhiana are being supplied with ground water sources, that is tube wells. As per the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) report, the groundwater has been over exploited and the quality of drinking water has deteriorated causing health hazards. Therefore, it has been proposed to change water supply from ground to canal water to ensure uninterrupted potable drinking water supply in the urban areas.
Giving the breakup of the total estimated project cost of 300 million US Dollars for the canal based water supply project at Amritsar and Ludhiana, the spokesperson said that the entire project would be co-financed by IBRD (World Bank) loan of 105 million US Dollars and an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) loan of 105 million US Dollars along with Government of Punjab (GoP) funds to the tune of 90 million US Dollars.
Further, the spokesperson said that in the Amritsar project, the source of surface water supply is Upper Bari Doab Canal and thereafter a 440 MLD (million litres per day) Water Treatment Plant would be constructed in Vallah village, Amritsar, for treating the surface water.
After treatment, the clear water would be pumped to the Over Head Service Reservoirs (OHSR) which would further serve the city residents to maintain continuous supply of water.
The infrastructure has been designed to meet the water demand for 30 years.
It would benefit the residents of Amritsar with an estimated population of 14.51 lakh for 2025 and 22.11 lakh for 2055.
At present, the canal based water supply project for Amritsar has been awarded to M/s Larsen and Toubro Limited at a contract amount of Rs 784.33 crore.
Likewise, the source of water supply in Ludhiana project is Sirhind Canal and thereafter a 580 MLD Water Treatment Plant would be constructed for treating the surface water.
After treatment, the clear water would be pumped into the OHSR which would further cater to the city residents to maintain continuous supply of water.
The infrastructure has been designed to meet the water demand for 30 years. It would benefit the residents of Ludhiana with an estimated population of 20.76 lakh for 2025 and 29.35 lakh for 2055.