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April 13: The Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board has decided to extend its water pipe network to cover more areas in the city, reeling under a severe drinking water crisis.
A state government official said the Guwahati Municipal Corporation is not in a position to extend its water pipe network owing to a funds crunch and various other constraints. The public health engineering (PHE) department is also not in a position to include any more areas under its water supply scheme.
“The government has asked the board to supply water to more areas. At present, the board is supplying about 20 million litres per day (MLD) of water in the city. But the board has the capacity of increasing its supply upto 40 MLD. According to the plan, the board is expected to increase its water supply over 30 MLD this year. Since the board uses water meters, there is less chance of water wastage. Revenue collection of the water supply board has been good in recent years,” the official said.
At present, the urban water supply board is providing water to R.G. Baruah Road, Zoo-Narengi and some parts of greater Dispur. Considering the fast population growth and expansion of the city, the board will have to extend its pipe network, he added.
The total water requirement of the city is over 140 MLD. While the GMC and the PHE can together supply about 84 MLD water, the urban water supply board been able to supply about 20 MLD of water so far.
Guwahati development minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has already given his assurance that he will extend full support, including funds, to the board to extend its network.
However, he said the board should also include those areas which are in the grip of a severe water crisis.
“During the selection of the areas to be included in the extension, the board will consider certain criteria. At least 50 households from a particular area will have to apply to be included under the board’s water network. Residents of areas like Lachit Nagar, Gandhi Basti. Rup Nagar, Srimantapur, Nabin Nagar and Chandmari, who are already under the GMC network, want to apply for water supply, too,” a source said.
The All Guwahati Students’ Union last year launched an agitation against irregular water supply by the board. Following the protest, the board had taken several initiatives to regularise water supply.
