The 24x7 canal-based water supply project in Ludhiana is now in full swing, bringing renewed hope to residents who have waited over seven years for its launch. Aimed at replacing dependence on groundwater, the project is expected to significantly curb the depletion of natural aquifers by switching to a surface water system.

The cornerstone of the initiative is the establishment of a world-class water treatment plant (WTP) at Bilga village near Sahnewal. In tandem, overhead water storage reservoirs (OHSRs) are being constructed across various parts of the city. Pipelines are also being laid to transport treated canal water from the village to urban households. The canal-based project is being executed in two phases and is funded jointly by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with the civil works for Phase-I estimated at around Rs 1,300 crore.

The initial phase focuses on core infrastructure, including the WTP and main distribution pipelines, while the second phase will involve installing household service connections with metering systems to ensure round-the-clock supply.

“Regular meetings of the project monitoring committee (PMC) are being held and directions are being issued to expedite the work of laying supply lines from Bilga village to the city. Inspections are being conducted to take stock of the situation at the ground level and the contractor has been directed to expedite the works and ensure that there is no compromise with the quality of the same,” a project official said.