Amritsar South MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar visits treatment plant, reviews canal water supply project

MLA from Amritsar South and former Minister of Local Bodies, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, visited the under-construction water treatment plant at Vallah on Thursday to review the progress of the Amritsar Bulk Water Supply Project. During the visit, Dr Nijjar inspected the plant and was briefed about its technical aspects by officials of the Municipal Corporation and Larsen & Toubro, the company executing the project. He emphasised that the initiative is vital to ensure the supply of clean drinking water to residents and reduce dependence on the rapidly depleting groundwater.

The Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project, being implemented with support from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, will draw water from the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC), treat it and then supply it to households.

The project includes setting up a state-of-the-art water treatment plant with a capacity of 440 million litres per day, building 45 new water storage tanks, renovating 24 existing tanks, and laying 112 km of new pipelines across the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nijjar said, “The project has been designed keeping in mind the city’s requirements for the next 30 years. By 2055, it will serve an estimated population of 25 lakh people.”

He also appealed to citizens to cooperate with the authorities if construction activity takes place near their homes or shops as part of the project work.

Apart from reviewing the project, Dr Nijjar also inaugurated a special health check-up camp at the plant premises. The health camp, led by Dr Vijay Kotwal (District TB Officer), Dr Anil (Cardiologist) and Dr Amit (Medical Officer, Civil Hospital), provided screening for heart and lung diseases to workers, employees and officials. The doctors also shared tips for maintaining healthy heart and lungs.

To mark the occasion, Dr Nijjar planted saplings within the plant premises. Senior officials including Jitin Vasudev (Superintending Engineer, Project), Rahul Patel (Project Manager, Larsen & Toubro), Ashwani Sharma (Senior Construction Manager), Ranjit Singh (SDO), Dr Monica Sabharwal, Giriraj Singh Hada and Harpreet Singh were also present on the occasion.