24X7 water supply project set to take off

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8

Finally, the 24X7 water supply pilot project of the city is set to be a reality as Chandigarh Smart City Limited (CSCL) today cleared a financial bid over Rs162 crore for the purpose.

Two firms, SB Engineering and Tapi Prestressed Pvt Ltd were cleared in the financial bid today under a joint venture. The project will first be implemented in Mani Majra.

Last week, these firms were cleared in the technical bid. There was one more firm, but it did not make it in the technical bid. Now, a formal nod from the Smart City Board of Directors is awaited at its April 14 meeting.

The work is expected to start by May 15. It will have a two-year deadline. “In the financial bid today, the agencies were okayed. Now, it will go to the Board of Directors,” said NP Sharma, General Manager, CSCL.

Prior to this, tenders were floated for the project six times. According to officials, at present, there is 60 per cent water wastage and theft in Mani Majra. This project will bring down the wastage to 15 per cent.

Under the project, a total of 13,700 water connections will be covered.

As per the plan, pipelines will be laid in outer parts as well as inside houses to check water contamination. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation used to lay pipelines till the outer areas of houses. People used to misuse these by connecting pipelines on their own, causing water contamination. It will also reduce water bills.

Once work on the project starts, the authorities will subsequently provide 24X7 water supply to the entire city.