Punjab Inaugurates Rs 266.95-Crore Canal Water Supply Scheme to Benefit 45,343 Households in 167 Amritsar Villages

Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Monday inaugurated a Rs 266.95-crore Canal Water-Based Multi-Village Water Supply Scheme at Kandowali and Majupura in Amritsar, aimed at providing clean and safe drinking water to 45,343 households across 167 villages.

A 39 MLD-capacity water treatment plant has been established at Kandowali and Majupura on the Lahore Branch of the Upper Bari Doab Canal to treat canal water for drinking purposes. The project also includes a 285.97-km pipeline network and construction of 20 water storage tanks in the villages covered under the scheme.

The scheme will cover villages falling under the Ajnala, Harsha Chhina, Majitha and Chogawan blocks. Of the 167 villages, 101 are in Ajnala block, 56 in Harsha Chhina, nine in Majitha and one in Chogawan. The project is expected to benefit around 2,65,994 rural residents.

Mundian said the scheme would reduce dependence on groundwater while ensuring access to safe and potable drinking water. He said groundwater quality in some villages had emerged as a concern due to elevated levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and arsenic, making a canal-based water supply system necessary.

“The Punjab Government is committed to providing clean and pure drinking water to the people of the state,” Mundian said, adding that the project would also help reduce water-related health concerns and improve the quality of life in rural areas.

Work on the project commenced on November 10, 2020. After completion, its operation and maintenance will be undertaken by the concerned agency for 10 years. Before the inauguration, the minister also reviewed the functioning and arrangements related to the project.

Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal thanked Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Punjab Government for dedicating the project to the people. He said the scheme would provide clean drinking water to residents and described its commencement as a significant development for the Ajnala constituency.

Administrative Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation Department, Ramveer, IAS, said the department would ensure the supply of treated drinking water to all 167 villages covered under the scheme.

Talbir Singh Gill and Sonia Mann also thanked the Punjab Government for initiating the project.

Chief Engineer R.K. Khosla, Superintending Engineer Gurpreet Singh, Executive Engineer Sahil Anand, SDM Ajnala Charumitra, JMC LCESPL (Kalpataru) Company GM Rajnish, GM Darshan and a large number of local residents were present at the inauguration.