Guwahati: Potable water may soon be available for the residents of Guwahati from July 2022 as only about 25% of the construction of water projects is left to be completed in the city.
A total of four water supply projects is being carried out in the city to resolve the drinking water crisis of the city which is long overdue.
The first water project began in 2009 in South West Guwahati. In 2011, the two water projects were started in South Central Guwahati and North Guwahati. Lastly, the South Central Guwahati water project was started in 2016.
"The South-West Guwahati water supply project has been partially commissioned in November last year. The South-Central Guwahati water supply project, which is the biggest one, will be commissioned by July next year as just around 25% work is left to be completed," said Rupjyoti Taluk, the executive engineer in-charge of the project implementation unit of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Talukdar also reasoned the delay in the completion of water projects and said, "Handing over land for construction, clearance from the forest department regarding environmental impact assessment and clearance from the National Highway Authority of India and Assam public works department fro laying pipes and construction of culverts were the reasons for the initial delay."
He also mentioned that shifting from the first location due to some issues led to the delay of the construction of the South Central project. He added, "A huge rock was found while digging in the present location. So, it took longer."
In February, the work progress of the JICA-funded South Central water supply was reviewed by external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Japanese ambassador Satoshi Suzuki.
The North Guwahati project has also been funded by JICA. The total cost of JICA-funded project amounts to Rs. 1,426 crores.
The South West Guwahati project is funded by Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) while the South East Guwahati project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
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