The Indian Express 25.10.2013
WB team shows interest in water supply, storm water projects
The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation on Thursday gave detailed
presentations on eight projects, including water supply, sewerage,
Buddha Nullah, city bus service, street lighting and solid waste
management, to a team of World Bank consultants.
The consultants had arrived in the city on Wednesday. The meeting was held at MC Commissioner Rahul Tewari’s residence.
However, the World Bank officials have shown interest in only two projects: 24-hour water supply and storm water sewerage.
Talking to Newsline, MC Commissioner Rahul Tewari said, “They
have shown interest in storm water sewerage and water supply project. We
have apprised them of the current situation. They will revert to us in
next 15 days or so.”
He said “there has been absolutely no commitment from their side
on any funds or project and that will be decided only after study”. “We
have given them our proposal. Now let’s see what they have to say,” he
added.
The project proposal is of around Rs 2,000 crore — Rs 1,500 crore
for water supply and Rs 500 crore for storm sewerage drainage system.
“Waterlogging is a major problem for Ludhiana and we have told
them that. Also, we have plans of water supply from Sidhwan Canal which
will save our electricity expenditure as currently around 1,100
tubewells are used for this purpose. In all, it’s around Rs 2,000 crore
investment for which the proposal has been given,” said Tewari.
