The much delayed rural drinking water project of the East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand has received a push as two companies have evinced interest in the project.

Recently, bids were invited by the Jamshedpur Circle of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department for the project, worth Rs 272 crore.

The project, to be funded by World Bank, obtained a response from two companies in South India, which have filed tenders for the Baghbera and Govindpur drinking water projects, estimated to cost Rs 134 crore and Rs 138 crore respectively.

Work on the project is expected to be completed in 30 months from the date of commencement of the ground work.

About 50 per cent of the project cost will be borne by the World Bank, while the remaining 50 per cent will be contributed by both, the Centre and the state government respectively, with each having a stake of 25 per cent each.

The project will benefit the rural and semi-urban pockets located within a radius of 25 km of the Jamshedpur city including -- Baghbera, Kitadih, Karandih, Pursudih, Govindpur, Gadra and Haludbani.