Water treatment plants worth Rs 432 crore inaugurated in Patiala district, 316 villages to get canal water

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dedicated two water treatment plants built at a cost of Rs 432.65 crore in villages Mandoli and Pabri of Patiala district to the public. Through this project, canal-based clean drinking water will be provided to 316 villages across five assembly constituencies of the district and adjoining areas.

Under this scheme, a 752-kilometer long pipeline has been laid, which will benefit about 4.5 lakh people across nearly 75,000 households. The main purpose of this project is to get rid of fluoride and heavy metal pollution in groundwater and reduce dependence on underground water.

Addressing a gathering at village Mandoli in Ghanaur constituency, the Chief Minister said that even after eight decades of independence, the people of these villages were deprived of a basic necessity like clean water, whereas this work should have been done long ago.

According to the Chief Minister, Rs 266.20 crore has been spent on the Mandoli plant and Rs 166.46 crore on the Pabri plant. Laboratories have been set up to test water quality and a SCADA system has been installed for continuous monitoring of the supply. The company that built this project will maintain it for the next 10 years.

Expressing concern over the falling groundwater table, he stated that the rate of water extraction in the state has reached 156.36 percent compared to natural recharge, while in Patiala it is around 208 percent. He stated that work on canal water projects is also underway for about 78 lakh residents of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala cities.

On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, Dr. Balbir Singh and Ghanaur MLA Gurlal Singh Ghanaur along with several administrative officials were also present.

Key developments

• Water treatment plants started in Mandoli and Pabri at a cost of Rs 432.65 crore.
• 4.5 lakh population of 316 villages in Patiala district to get canal water.
• Water supply to 75,000 households through 752 km pipeline.
• Aim to solve contaminated groundwater problem and reduce dependence on underground water.