Nov. 5: Come tomorrow and tankers will move into your locality to deliver clean and hygienic drinking water under the brand name of Brahmajal right at your doorstep.
In a move that will bring relief to thousands of residents, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) today granted permission for delivery of Brahmajal, ending the six-day impasse over the inauguration of the first-of-its-kind private venture in the city.
The stalemate over the project ended after a meeting between officials of the GMDA, Guwahati Municipal Corporation, district administration and the promoters of the project today.
The inauguration of the project, scheduled for October 30, was cancelled at the last moment after the GMDA raised objections.
Sources said GMDA vice-chairman M.G.V.K. Bhanu agreed to allow delivery of water from tomorrow, pending clearance from the civic body.
“All misunderstandings have been cleared and we can start delivery of Brahmajal from tomorrow. The GMDA will clear the project soon,” said Suresh Kalita, one of the partners of the project.
However, there will be no formal announcement or any inaugural function, as the model code of conduct has come into force for the GMC election slated for December 1. Kamrup (metropolitan) deputy commissioner A.K. Absar Hazarika said, “There is no misunderstanding. Everything has been sorted out and they can start delivering water immediately.”
Sources said as the government could not take up any new project while the code of conduct was in force, Dispur might go in for a formal inauguration after the election. “It is just the beginning. Once the project picks up, we will replicate it in other areas to cover the entire city,” the deputy commissioner added.
Brahmajal, the brand name for clean, hygienic potable water drawn from the Brahmaputra, is an innovative attempt to resolve the drinking water crisis in the city. The water treatment plant will produce 40,000 litres of water every hour.
At present, the civic authorities fulfil only 40 per cent of the total drinking water requirement of the city. GMC Water Works produces 72 million litres of water every day and caters to 25,000 households. It receives nearly 25 applications for fresh connections daily.
Besides the GMC, the Assam public health engineering department and Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board generate 15.75 million litres and 11.25 million litres of water per day respectively.
The project plans to distribute water door-to-door through tankers.
“Since it is not feasible to set up pipelines, we will use tankers to deliver water to the consumers. We will sell it at the rate of two paise per litre to the tankers. On home delivery, it will cost 10 paise,” Kalita said.
At present, when people need water, especially during marriages and function, they apply to the GMC and wait in a queue. “Now people can just ask for home delivery of water over phone,” said Kalita.
The pilot project of the mini water treatment plant, set up on an plot of 6,000 square feet, has the following components — anaeration tank, a sedimentation tank, a three-tier filtration chamber fitted with electro-magnetic dosing system and a generator set.
“If we operate for 10 hours, we will be able to produce four lakh litres of water per day,” said Kalita. “We will have to supply water online as we have no reservoir. We have to push only two buttons, one for pumping in and the other for pumping out water.
“We will treat the water chemically. We have a three-tier filtration process — rapid sand filter, suspended solid filter and activated carbon filter,” said Kalita.
“We are also planning to set up micron filters fitted with industrial UV system and an automatic bottling plant,” said Kalita. “On completion, the project will generate employment for 11 skilled and semi-skilled personnel,” he added.
