Jaipur: Residents of Prithvi Raj Nagar (PRN) might have to pay heavy levy to procure drinking water connection as the public health and engineering department (PHED) is struggling to get funds to develop infrastructure.After Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) refused to pay proposed amount of Rs 453 crore, the PHED is planning to charge money from residents for laying transmission lines in north and south regions of PRN."Now, only two options remain after denial of JDA. Either, the state government provide funds to develop infrastructure or money is charged from plot owners. We will forward a proposal to the state government seeking permission to charge money. The PHED imposed Rs 250 per square metre charges to provide water connection," said a senior PHED official.The PHED had prepared a plan to supply water in nearly 800 colonies with a population of over 3 lakh. As JDA would be collecting development charge from these residents of PRN, the proposal was forwarded for financial assistance. However, as the JDA has only assured to provide Rs 96 crore, it appears the project would be further delayed. "In the meeting chaired by PHED minister, ACS, UDH claimed that the department would provide money collected from residents for water. However, funds are not sufficient to provide water in entire PRN," added an official.It was informed, even if the assistance is provided by state government this year, the PHED would take at least two more years to develop the infrastructure and supply water. As there is delay in receiving the funds, the project will be delayed further for longer period.For north region, the PHED has estimated to supply 40 mld of water per day from Bisalpur. The demand for the entire PRN scheme is around 85 mld of water.According to officials, the department has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to supply drinking water in the north PRN region. However, the plan cannot be finalised due to non-availability of land. "To provide immediate relief to residents, we have decided to lay transmission lines. We have also prepared a Rs 700 crore proposal to lay internal lines but it has been not finalised yet,"said a senior PHED official.

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