Ranchi: Over a lakh capital residents will no longer have to cope with water rationing, especially in summer months, as supply to their areas is likely to double next week when a new water filtration plant coming up at Rukka dam is expected to be partially commissioned.

Rukka dam supply division's executive engineer P.K. Singh said construction of an intake well (114 MLD) and a water treatment plant (172 MLD) was over.

"In another three-four days, electrical work will be completed and we will be good to go. Pipe-linkage between Rukka and Hatia exist. The new plant has been connected to Hatia," he told The Telegraph.

So far, Hatia dam, which caters to Church Road, Chutia, Siromtoli, Ashok Nagar, North Office Para, Birsa Chowk, Dhurwa and its adjoining areas, receives 5-6 million gallons of water per day (MGD) from Rukka dam. But after the linkage, Hatia will get 10MGD water from Rukka, which will ensure uninterrupted supply to over a lakh residents served by it.

Rukka dam caters to the water needs of about 85 per cent of the 12 lakh residents of Ranchi, followed by Hatia and Gonda dams.

The new filtration plant project, which includes construction of a couple of underground reservoirs, laying of pipes on the capital outskirts primarily at Tupudana, Tatisilwai and nearby areas, is estimated to cost Rs 373 crore.

Rukka dam engineer P.K. Singh said work began on the project four years back under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM). Two underground reservoirs were yet to be built at Simalia and Rampur on the outskirts of Ranchi.

"In Rampur, due to pending work on Ring Road, we haven't been able to get proper alignments to lay pipes. Till then, work is on at Simalia. Once this is done we will link reservoirs with the six overhead towers at Piska More, Dibdih, Daladali Chowk, Harmu Pahari, Hatia and Tupudana," he said.

The project is likely to be complete by March-April 2018 when Rukka dam would cater to almost 90 per cent of Ranchi's population.

Hatia dam executive engineer Sashi Shekhar Singh said once the new filtration plant was ready, they would not have to resort to water rationing even during peak summers when water levels recede.

"Two years ago, Hatia dam was on the verge of totally drying up due to which over a lakh people faced a crisis. We were compelled restrict water supply two or thrice days a week for about a year until recently. But now, we don't see that happening for at least a few years from now," he said.

He added Hatia had enough water to last two years. "Getting more water from Rukka means we can retain our water longer," he said.