Agartala, Sep 20, 2024, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, Sept 20: The present state government has given special emphasis to ensuring clean drinking water for all, Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha said on Friday.

After successful implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in rural areas, the government has set a goal to provide drinking water coverage to 100 percent households in urban areas too, he said.

The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a modern water supply project covering 12 towns of the state under the Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalp (MM-NUP). The event was held at Rajarshi Town Hall in Udaipur. The project will be implemented with the financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

After the inauguration, Dr. Saha praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as a visionary leader in driving the country towards development.

“The Prime Minister always says ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. In this direction, we are also working to build Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura," he said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that during the rule of previous governments, there was no effective step to meet the basic needs of the people. He said, development in the state accelerated only after Narendra Modi assumed office as Prime Minister.

Dr. Saha expressed joy over the Urban Development Department’s initiative. He emphasized that infrastructure like roads, water, and drainage are crucial for urban development, without which progress is impossible. The project aims to improve water supply, including iron removal plants, as a major step towards ensuring clean drinking water for all.

The project will be implemented at the cost of Rs. 530 crore, funded by ADB, and is expected to be completed within three years. 

Around 75,000 households, comprising about 4,00,000 people, will benefit from this initiative. The project includes 305 kilometers of pipeline, 25 deep tube wells, 18 iron removal plants, 4 water treatment plants, and 19 overhead reservoirs. Additionally, 18 kilometers of roads and 48 kilometers of drainage will be constructed, improving both connectivity and sewage management in urban areas.

Dr. Saha thanked Prime Minister Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their support. He also acknowledged the Asian Development Bank's financial assistance. The project will be implemented simultaneously in towns like Khowai, Mohanpur, Ranirbazar, Bishramganj, Melaghar, Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, Kumarghat, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, and Ambassa.

Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, MLA Abhishek Debroy, Urban Development Secretary Abhishek Singh, Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma, Urban Development Director Rajat Pant, and Udaipur Municipal Council Chairperson Shital Chandra Majumdar were present. Representatives from 11 urban panchayats also participated in the programme in virtual mode.