The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) is set to achieve a major milestone in its Rs 511-crore mega drinking water project, with the first phase expected to conclude within three months, according to Mayor Gautam Deb.

After reviewing progress with officials, Deb stated, “We expect the work of the project’s first phase to be complete in another three months.” So far, pipelines have been laid along 15 km of the 27.5 km stretch from the Teesta river to the Fulbari water treatment plant, while clearance from the state forest department is awaited for the remaining section. Construction of a key pond at the Fulbari treatment plant is underway and scheduled for completion by November.

Dulal Dutta, Member, Mayor-in-Council (water supply and health), noted the pond will store 1,500 million litres, helping safeguard uninterrupted supply. The project, part of the Centre’s AMRUT 2.0 scheme, covers all 47 wards of the civic body, the largest in north Bengal. Technical expertise is being provided by Jadavpur University’s water resource department, with a task force coordinating execution. Meanwhile, SMC is identifying sites for 15 overhead reservoirs to enhance water distribution.