KMC to arrange for round-the-clock potable water supply by 2020

KOLKATA: The Asian Development Bank will soon acknowledge the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) by awarding it for their excellent work on underground water supply in the city.

"The city ranks number one in underground water supply system in the country and has time and again received accolades from ADB. Now, they are going to award us to give a befitting recognition for our good work," Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said after chairing a meeting with top ADB officials at the KMC headquarters on Monday.

By 2020, the KMC has an ambitious plan for the city's water supply with ADB agreeing to grant loans in phases. "We are going to arrange for round-the-clock potable water supply from Ward number 1 to 6 in North Kolkata, Joka and some wards in Behala in the southern part of the city and also in parts of EM Bypass. The water supply will be metered to prevent misuse of water but the residents will not be charged. Meters are already being installed in Wards 1-6," an officer in the KMC's water supply department said.

ADB has already released funds in two phases out of which Rs 450 crore is being utilised for constructing three water booster pumping stations — two in Behala and Joka and the third one at Prantik Palli (Kasba) off EM Bypass. This apart, five overhead water reservoirs will be built to ensure that filtered water is stored and supplied to the residents of the localities concerned whenever there is a crisis.

"We had planned for 12 hour water supply in the rest of the city. ADB has told us to chalk out a plan whether 24-hour water supply can be implemented in some other parts of the city. They have assured us of funds," the official added.

"Matters pertaining to our work in solid waste management and underground drainage system were also discussed," he said.