Agra: The Gangajal project has been delayed again. Now, the new deadline for supply of Ganga water to Agra city is November 15. Earlier, Jal Nigam officials had claimed that project works were in final stages and would be completed in October. The project deadline had also been shifted several times over the past six years. The project was to have been completed in 2012.The project envisages supply of around 500 million litres a day (MLD) of Ganga water for Agra from Palra headworks in Bulandshahr's Upper Ganga canal. For this, around 150 km of pipeline is being laid. Mathura and Vrindavan will also get Ganga water through these pipelines.According to Jal Nigam officials, once the project is completed, Ganga water will be discharged into river Yamuna for two weeks to ensure that the water pipeline has no fault and gets cleaned. Supply of about 350 MLD of water to households every day is likely to start in December. Out of this, 200 MLD will be supplied to Jeevani Mandi water works station. The old water treatment plant in Sikandra will get 150 MLD.“The Ganga water will first reach the Sikandra works station. For now, the Jeevani Mandi station is not connected to the main supply line. This work will be completed in one month. Supply line is being laid by implementing trenchless technique,” said a senior Jal Nigam official.The current requirement of Agra is estimated to be around 400 MLD. But the two water works station in the city are supplying only around 260 MLD. In peak summer, the situation worsens with water level in river Yamuna falling to a minimum level of 480 feet. After completion of the Gangajal project, Agra is likely to get at least 500 MLD water every day.Admitting that Gangajal project has been delayed, mayor Naveen Jain said, “Officials have been asked to ensure that supply of Ganga water starts in November. State government is being very strict about this matter.”Following lackadaisical approach towards Gangajal project related works, chief minister Yogi Adityanath earlier this month had ordered suspension of three senior officials, including general manager of Jal Nigam (Agra unit) Krishna Gopal Singh.The Gangajal project was launched in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2005. It was set to be completed by March 2012. But since then the project deadline has been shifted ahead several times. Now, authorities claim that they will complete the project by the end of this month. Meanwhile the cost of the project has escalated from Rs 345 crore in 2005 to over Rs 2,800 crore.

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