Punjab Govt Dedicates Rs 267-Cr Canal Water Scheme, to Provide Clean Drinking Water to 45,343 Households in 167 Villages

The Punjab Government has dedicated a Rs 266.95-crore canal water-based multi-village water supply scheme aimed at providing clean and potable drinking water to 45,343 households in 167 villages of the border areas of Amritsar district.

Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian dedicated the project to the people, saying the Bhagwant Mann-led government was committed to ensuring access to safe drinking water across the state.

The scheme will benefit around 2.86 lakh rural residents across Ajnala, Majitha, Harsha Chhina and Chogawan blocks. It is also aimed at reducing dependence on groundwater and promoting a sustainable canal-based source of drinking water.

Under the project, a 39 MLD-capacity water treatment plant has been established at Kandowali and Majjupura on the Lahore Branch of the Upper Bari Doab Canal. The plant will treat canal water for supply to the villages.

A 285.97-km pipeline network is being laid under the scheme, along with the construction of 20 water storage tanks.

Of the 167 villages covered, 101 are in Ajnala block, 56 in Harsha Chhina, nine in Majitha and one in Chogawan. The scheme is expected to provide safe drinking water to the identified households and population through the canal-based supply network.

Mundian said the project would help address water-related health concerns and improve the quality of life in rural areas by providing access to clean and safe drinking water.

Ajnala MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal thanked the state government for launching the scheme and said it would provide relief to residents who had been facing drinking water-related difficulties. He also appreciated the Water Supply and Sanitation Department for completing the project in a short period.

Administrative Secretary, Water Supply and Sanitation, Ramvir, said several villages in the area had been facing drinking water problems because of elevated TDS levels and the presence of elements such as arsenic in groundwater.

He said the canal-based project was therefore initiated to provide a safer source of drinking water. After completion, the concerned agency will undertake the project’s operation and maintenance for 10 years.

Those present on the occasion included Talbir Singh Gill from Majitha constituency, Sonia Mann from Raja Sansi constituency, Ajnala SDM Charumitra, Chief Engineer R.K. Khosla, Superintending Engineer Gurpreet Singh, Executive Engineer Sahil Anand, JMC LCESPL (Kalpataru) General Manager Rajnish, General Manager Darshan and other officials.