Punjab’s first central water treatment plant begins drinking water supply

LUDHIANA: Punjab’s first ‘Central Water Treatment Plant’ which was set up with the assistance of the World Bank for Rs 232 crore, has begun the supply of drinking water in 85 villages of Moga district. The plant has been set up in Daudhar village of Moga.

The plant is treating 21.52 cusecs of water per second from Abohar Canal Branch which is further supplied to the inhabitants of 85 villages through underground pipelines. The plant is providing 24 hours of clean drinking water to the homes of more than 4.5 lakh people in these villages. These 85 villages include one village of Moga-1, 47 villages of Baghapurana and 37 villages of Nihal Singh Wala. The plant has been developed by Larsen and Toubro (L&T) which has been given the responsibility of its operation and maintenance for the next 10 years.

The people of the villages complained that the water in the surrounding areas had become undrinkable due to the high level of uranium. People began contracting various diseases due to the impurities in the water. The plant will not only solve the problem of scarcity of clean drinking water but will also provide employment opportunities to the youth of the area. 332 kilometres of pipeline has been installed in the area to cover the entire target region.