WORLD BANK AND ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK APPROVES 300 MILLION US DOLLAR LOAN FOR CANAL BASED DRINKING WATER SCHEMES FOR AMRITSAR AND LUDHIANA

PUNJB CM VIGOROUSLY PURSUED WITH CENTRE TO SECURE WORLD BANK & AIIB LOAN

Chandigarh, April 2:

The World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved 300 Million US dollars loan for canal based drinking water schemes under Punjab Municipal Services Improvement Project with a view to ensure quality drinking water 24×7 and minimize the water losses for holy city Amritsar and industrial hub Ludhiana.

Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had been vigorously pursuing with the Centre to secure World Bank and AIIB loan to ensure clean drinking water to the residents in these cities. The other two canal based water supply projects in Jalandhar and Patiala are already under execution.

It may be recalled that at present, Amritsar and Ludhiana are being supplied with ground water source i.e. tube wells. As per the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) report, the ground water has been over exploited and the quality of drinking water has deteriorated causing health hazards. Therefore, it has been proposed to change water supply from ground to canal water to ensure uninterrupted potable drinking water supply in the urban areas.

Giving the break up of the total estimated project cost of 300 million US Dollars for the canal based water supply project at Amritsar and Ludhiana, the spokesperson said that the entire project would be co-financed by IBRD (World Bank) Loan of 105 Million US Dollars and an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) loan of 105 Million US Dollars alongwith Government of Punjab (GoP) funds to the tune of 90 Million US Dollars.

Pointing out further, the spokesperson said that in Amritsar project, the source of surface water supply is Upper Bari Doab Canal and thereafter a 440 MLD (Million Litres per Day) Water Treatment Plant would be constructed in village Vallah, Amritsar for treating the surface water. After treatment, the clear water would be pumped to the Over Head Service Reservoirs (OHSR)which would further serve to the city residents to maintain continuous supply of water.

The Infrastructure has been designed to meet the water demand for 30 years. It would benefit the residents of Amritsar with estimated population of 14.51 lakh for 2025 and 22.11 lakh for 2055.

At present, the Canal Based Water Supply Project for Amritsar has been awarded to M/s Larsen & Toubro Limited at a contract amount of Rs.784.33 Crore.

Likewise, the source of water supply in Ludhiana project is Sirhind Canal and thereafter a 580 MLD (Million Litres per Day) Water Treatment Plant would be constructed for treating the surface water. After treatment, the clear water would be pumped into the OHSR which would further cater to the city residents to maintain continuous supply of water.

The Infrastructure has been designed to meet the water demand for 30 years. It would benefit the residents of Ludhiana with estimated population of 20.76 lakh for 2025 and 29.35 lakh for 2055.

The total estimated Design Build Cost of Ludhiana Project is Rs.1093.92 Crore and the period for completion of the same is 36 months. The estimated Operation &Maintenance cost is Rs.270.73 Crore for 10 years. The total amount for the project comes out to Rs.1364.65 Crore.

At present, in the Canal Based Water Supply Project for Ludhiana, the Request for Proposal is under finalization and would be floated shortly