Ranchi. May 6: In a bid to end the drinking water crisis in Dhanbad and Ranchi, the government has decided to channel water from Maithan dam.

Decks have been cleared to bring drinking water to Dhanbad town from the Maithan dam. In Ranchi, two water towers will be inaugurated tomorrow.

Minister for drinking water and sanitation Jaleshwar Mahato told The Telegraph that the DVC has given its permission to withdraw water from the Maithon dam.

No Objection Certificates (NoCs) by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the forest and environment department, too, have been secured for the execution of the project. Tenders to lay the pipeline will be floated this month.

“It is an ambitious project, which will be completed during my tenure as the minister. Mining operations by the BCCL have aggravated the drinking water crisis in the district. The funds needed for the project are available with the PHED,” Mahato added.

The first project report was prepared by the Project India Development Limited (PDIL), which pegged the expenses at Rs 150 crore.

The revised report by WAPCOS suggested put the expenses at Rs 95 crore. However, the WAPCOS did not submit “bill of quantity” till April 30. At an emergency meeting held here two days ago, the PHED decided to go-ahead with its plan.

“In Ranchi, at least 10 water towers are needed. Two such towers located at Church Road and Zila School campus will be inaugurated tomorrow. The third one in the Piscamore locality will be completed soon. It will start functioning within a month. The storage capacity of these towers is 3 lakh gallons each. The remaining seven water towers, too, will be completed within a year,” the minister said.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda will visit Dhanbad on May 11, where he will inaugurate the New Mahuda water treatment plant. About Rs 6 crore has been spent on this project. Munda will also lay the foundation of water treatment plants in Pathergaria and Patratukuli basti localities.