Work in progress

Nagaon, May 3: Two multi-crore-rupee projects are promising to eradicate the drinking water problem at Diphu and Bokajan in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district by August 2011.

The public health engineering department of the Karbi Anglong district autonomous council had launched the two projects some time ago.

Work on the Diphu project began soon after receiving Rs 8.54 crore in the first phase a couple of months ago, said the Karbi Anglong district autonomous council senior executive member (in-charge of public health engineering department), Sum Ranghang. The entire work is estimated to cost Rs 27.64 crore.

The Bokajan project aims to cover 40,000 households and will cost nearly Rs 10 crore. Work on this project is in the preliminary stages.

The water supply system in Diphu was streamlined in 1991 when a sophisticate treatment plant was established at Binapani. Water lifted from the Jamuan river was treated and channelled into two large reservoirs in the heart of Diphu town.

Between 2004-06, the hill district autonomous council received Rs 4.5 crore as central assistance.

But because of alleged funds misuse, a plan to strengthen the water system did not progress.

Besides, when the system was first planned, the population of Diphu was just 30,000. “Now our target is to cover as many as 65,000 households,” assistant engineer Bimol Sarma said.

The Diphu project includes new pipelines, two reservoirs to store 1,900 cubic metres of treated water, expansion of the distribution system and a more sophisticated water treatment plant.

If work on the new projects is completed on time, Diphu villagers may finally get potable water.