MC Chandigarh has commenced the ambitious project of enhancing the Tertiary Treated water supply system in the city, allocating an estimated budget of Rs. 71.58 crore.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT Chandigarh, in the presence of City Mayor Kuldeep Kumar, Adviser to Administrator Rajeev Verma, IAS, Secretary Local Government Nitin Kumar Yadav, IAS, Commissioner Anindita Mitra, IAS, and other eminent officers of the civic body, as well as notable residents of Chandigarh.
Governor Purohit emphasised the significance of the project in conserving drinking water. The initiative aims to treat and supply approximately 20 MGD of Tertiary Treated water for irrigation purposes, thereby preserving valuable potable water resources.
He urged the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) to curtail the use of potable water for non-potable purposes and increase the supply of Tertiary Treated water for various non-potable needs after the completion of the project and the installation of pipelines throughout the city.
The Governor acknowledged the Smart City Mission’s upgrade of all six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology, resulting in improved tertiary treated water quality and the elimination of public complaints about foul smells.
City Mayor Kuldeep Kumar detailed the scope of the initiative, emphasizing that parks, green belts, road berms, and roundabouts across the city would receive treated water for irrigation. Additionally, upon successful project completion, recycled water would be provided to industries in the Industrial Area, Phase-I & II, Chandigarh. The Mayor estimated that the project would save approximately 20 to 25 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) of potable/fresh water, leading to substantial groundwater conservation.
Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra termed the initiative a pivotal milestone in the pursuit of a greener and more water-efficient future for the City Beautiful. She highlighted the expansion of the Tertiary Treated water supply from not only STP Diggian but also from STPs in Raipur Kalan, 3BRD, and Maloya after project completion.
