Missing deadlines, city's surface water project stuck in red tape

Having missed its September deadline, the Rs 465 crore surface water project will see the work expedited in six new areas by December.

Slated to be completed by September 9 this year, it's deadline has now been pushed to December 31. Out of 98-km pipeline, only 54 km of the pipeline has been laid in the past three-and-a-half years.

The real question is whether four months, less than half the year, will be enough to complete the remaining 44 km of the project. Many officials are doubtful.

What began with the noble cause of conserving groundwater by replacing it with canal water has unfortunately transformed Jalandhar into a dust-ridden wasteland.

The project started in 2021 and was to be completed in three years, it's late by a year. Its deadline has been extended several times and has cost dearly in terms of the citizens health and mental peace.

Eight areas that were dug up are still reeling from the dust and debris left by the project. Now, work is set to begin in six more heavily trafficked areas. Officials have stated that residents will have to wait until after the monsoon for the roads that were previously dug up to be rebuilt.

One of the main causes of the delay has been bureaucratic red tape. Multiple elections caused frequent stalling and the project had to be re-routed in areas where the Municipal Corporation's lack of knowledge about sewer pipe locations. As a result, the project had to be recalibrated.

Behind schedule, project officials are now making an unprecedented push to meet the deadline by beginning work on six new areas. This will only add to the chaos, causing major traffic snarls and further disruption across the city.

Alternative water source for city

Jalandhar's water demand, when the projects started in 2021, was 197 million litre per day and by 2036, it is projected to increase to 275 million litre per day. With a 30-year guarantee, the project can be sustained until 2051.

Jalandhar's water supply currently relies on groundwater extracted through tubewells, but the rate of extraction far exceeds the natural rate of replenishment. If this continues, the situation is expected to deteriorate further in the coming years.

The surface water project has been brought in to ensure a sustainable and resilient alternative water source for the city. Water taken from the Bist Doab Canal (through navigation channel at Adampur) will be treated through a network of reservoirs and a water treatment plant to supply drinking water to the city.

The project will cost Rs 465 cr

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been tasked with the completion of the project worth Rs 465.20 crore project. It will incur the additional operation and maintenance cost of Rs 60.65 crore over a period spanning 10 years. The city has been divided into five zones with 5 underground service reservoirs (UGSR) for the project. It will include laying of surface water pipeline across 98 km; construction of a 275-MLD treatment plant at Adampur, five UGSRs at Burlton Park, Dhilwan, Model Town and Surya Enclave, a 5-km water line, two clear water tanks, two storage and sedimentation tanks, four clarifiers and several buildings, including admin building, chemical house, electrical building, filter house, filter annex building, etc.

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Work ongoing in areas

Nakodar Road, Workshop Chowk Road, Kapurthala Road, Mitthu Basti, Dhilwan, BSF Chowk and Lyallpur Khalsa Road, Mall Road (GTB Nagar).

Where work will start: Deep Nagar, Ved Mata Colony, Dakoha, Nangal Shama (Laddewali Road), BMC Chowk to Shastri Market, Ladowali Road, Corporation Office backside, Adda Hoshiarpur (Kishanpura Chowk).

Will begin after rains

Padamdeep Singh, SDO, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, said, "Many pipeline projects had been delayed or stalled repeatedly due to awaited permissions, elections, pre-existing sewer pipeline issues and due to monsoons. Work has to be done in all busy areas at night due to traffic in the day. The road work stalled or delayed in previously dug-up areas is mainly due to monsoon. If we construct roads now, they will be damaged in the rains. We are awaiting the monsoon to end and the dust to settle. Estimates for future construction on dug-up road stretches have made and tenders have been been invited by the MC. Work will begin as soon as the rains end."