There is hope with canal water set to replace the underground water, bringing relief to many.

It will not only meet the ever-increasing demand for potable water of the growing population of the holy city but will also check the overexploitation of subsoil water.

The subsoil water is depleting at an astounding rate of three metres per year and adding contaminants including arsenic due to water exploitation.

On Saturday, the mayor of Amritsar Karamjit Singh Rintu said that the underground water level was depleting at the rate of three metres per year.

The administration had to use extra high power motors for drawing the water and yet it was unable to supply potable water round the clock to nearly 14 lakh population of Amritsar.

”In many places, we are drawing the water from somewhere else and supplying it in the area where the water level is too deep,” he said.
Besides, Rintu said that due to overexploitation of water, officials had observed various contaminants including arsenic and other heavy metals which were not only harmful to human consumption but also for the ecosystem.

To resolve the issue of erratic water supply, check the contamination of water and to prevent further depletion of water level, the mayor said that the administration had come up with a World Bank-aided Rs 2200-crore project for the 24X7 supply of the water.

“This project will meet the needs of the expected 22 lakh population of Amritsar in next 30 years,“ he said.

Giving details, he said that the work on the first phase of Rs 723 crore project was underway.

“We have purchased 40 acres of land near Upper Bari Doab Canal, Vallah, where a water treatment plant will be installed," he said.

The treated water would be stored in as many as 100 overhead reservoirs from where it would be supplied to every household, he said.

When asked about any change in the water tariff, he replied “there may be a nominal hike in water tariff, but people will get round-the-clock potable water supply at their homes”.
Presently, free of cost water was supplied to the houses built in 125 square yard and Rs 220 was charged per month including Rs 110 sewerage tariff from the owners of properties above 125 square yards and there was a separate tariff for the bulk users.

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