Naveen inaugurates water treatment plant, Highway four-laning project in Berhampur

Source: The Sambad

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated a new drinking water treatment plant at Dakhinapur on Tuesday to alleviate drinking water crisis of Berhampur city.  He also laid foundation stones for an elevated storage reservoir at Lanjipalli area of the city and for a project to strengthen drinking water supply in this perennially drinking water scarce city. Officials of the Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHIO) said the new water treatment plant inaugurated by the Chief Minister would augment the shortfall of drinking water supply to the city.  It may be noted drinking water crisis always remained a major issue during elections in Berhampur and the elections to the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) is expected to be held next year.

The new drinking water treatment plant inaugurated by Mr. Naveen Patnaik has the capacity to treat water of 20 MLD. According to the authorities, Berhampur city which has a population of around 3,70,000 needs 50 MLD water. Earlier, there used to be shortfall of over 13 MLD water for the city, which would be fulfilled by this new water treatment plant, they said. It was claimed that now the city would get 50 MLD of drinking water supply. Out of it 30 MLD would be supplied from the Dakhinpur source, 16 MLD would come from Rushikulya drinking water supply project and four MLD from production wells in the city. Another project proposal estimated to cost Rs. 59.09 crore to streamline drinking water supply in Berhampur has also received administrative approval by the State government. The project would involve laying of around 208-km water pipeline and construction of 11 underground reservoirs and 17 elevated storage reservoirs. State Housing and Urban Development Department and PHEO in a release stated that a proposal was also on keeping in view the increasing water needs of the city in next 30 years. This envisioned project involves bringing water from Janivili anicut through closed conduit which would enable supply of 125 MLD of water to the city. The project was expected to cost around Rs. 274.80 crore.

During his visit Mr Patnaik also laid foundation stone for the development and four-laning project of the stretch of NH59 that passes through the city.

Source: The Hindu

Source: The Sambad