The municipal corporation is taking steps to quench the thirst of the water-deprived people of Muzaffarpur.
Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation (MMC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Hyderabad-based agency, IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects, to improve the drinking water supply system in the town.
MMC has faced criticism for failing to facilitate potable water for more than 3.5 lakh residents of its 49 wards. Members of the corporation board have criticised the state government’s policies and indifferent attitude towards the same. Municipal commissioner Madhu Gupta signed the agreement for a Rs 69-crore project with IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects officials in the presence of mayor Bimla Devi Tulsiyan last Wednesday.
The urban development department has provided the Rs 69-crore fund to MMC for laying new pipelines, including water pumps in the corporation areas. The Centre had provided requisite funds to all municipal corporations in the state for strengthening the water supply systems to provide pure drinking water to people. Now, the residents of corporation areas would be given water supply lines free of cost.
Earlier, the corporation charged Rs 300 annually for providing water supply to each house in the MMC areas. Seventeen water pumps cater to 3.5 lakh people but they have become redundant of late. The water supply pipelines were laid in the 1960s and are in a bad state at present.
Senior manager of IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects Mahesh Kumar said: “Survey work has been expedited. The agreement has been signed with MMC to lay new pipelines and to set up new water towers, water pumps and supply lines. The corporation areas of Muzaffarpur have been split into 10 zones for setting up the new water supply scheme.”
Kumar added that IVRCL Infrastructure and Projects would be entirely responsible for facilitating pure drinking water to the people. The urban development department has de-linked the water supply system from the corporation. The project would be completed by the end of 2014.
