Bhubaneswar: The public health engineering organisation is planning to strengthen the source of drinking water in the city by constructing another water treatment plant.

The plan came up following a proposal of tourism minister Ashok Panda, who had asked the organisation to build one more treatment plant to improve water supply system in the city.

"It is very much essential to improve the source of drinking water in Bhubaneswar for an additional water of at least 100MLD to retain its position in the top smart cities of the world as ascertained from the technical experts," stated the minister's letter.

He mentioned that the city was growing beyond the Kuakhai river towards Cuttack, beyond Sisupalgarh on the national highway leading to Puri, beyond Tamando on the national highway leading to Khurda and beyond Nadankanan.

Panda further pointed out that under the Amrut scheme, the piped water supply network would be strengthened, and the uncovered areas would be brought under the ambit in next two years, but there were no projects to strengthen the source of water supply.

"We have received the letter from the minister through the chief minister's office and are in the process to prepare a feasibility report. We are aware of strengthening the water source, and a proposal will be moved shortly," said Pheo superintending engineer C.R. Jena.

The minister suggests that the additional raw water could be drawn from the Mahanadi and transmitted through pipeline to the proposed treatment plant site, which may be constructed at Palasuni.

At present, Pheo has two sources of getting drinking water to be supplied to the city households - ground water through tube wells and surface water through the rivers. It has one water treatment plant at Palasuni and a pumping station at Kuakhai besides having a number of underground and overhead tanks in various parts of the city.

It generates about 295 million litres of water and supplies the same to the city households daily. "We have enough water for supply to the present population, but it will be deficient with the rapid growth of the city. We will take steps to improve the source of drinking water here," said a Pheo official.