Surface water supply project achieved 20% progress in 8 months: MC chief

With an aim to ensure potable water supply to every household in the city at the earliest, Ludhiana Surface Water Supply Scheme (LSWSS), a canal-based water supply project, has achieved 20 per cent physical progress within just eight months of its commencement, reported officials at the civic body.

Reviewing the progress recently, Municipal Corporation (MC) Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal stated that different components under the project were moving at a fast pace, including the work to establish a world-class water treatment plant (WTP) in Bilga village (near Sahnewal).

He said strict orders were issued to the contractor firm to complete the project within the stipulated time period. He also said that the Additional Chief Secretary of the Local Bodies Department, Tejveer Singh, had also reviewed the progress of the project and appreciated the pace of the work.

A flagship initiative of the Government of Punjab, the project is being implemented by the Municipal Corporation Ludhiana (MCL) with technical support from the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC). It is jointly financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The first phase of the project has a budget of Rs 1,305 crore, with an additional Rs 154 crore earmarked for 10 years of operations and maintenance and Rs 84 crore reserved for quality assurance.

MC Commissioner Dachalwal stated that the project, officially launched on February 25, 2025, had achieved 20 per cent physical progress as of now. Nearly 25 km of water supply pipelines had already been installed, while material had also been arranged for an additional 48 km.

Further, 70 new OHSRs (water tanks) have to be constructed under the project, of which, work has started at 31 sites. Non-destructive testing (NDT) has already been conducted at 47 existing OHSR sites which would be rehabilitated under the project. The work at the remaining sites would be commenced soon, he added.