World Bank-funded water projects to benefit 3 lakh people in Steel City

JAMSHEDPUR: Around three lakh people living in 21 panchayats in Baghbera-Govindpur areas of the city the will benefit from two major water projects funded by World Bank.
The international monetary body has funded Baghbera and Govindpur drinking water projects at an estimated cost of Rs134 crore and Rs138 crore respectively.
State government has said that construction work for the two projects will begin in March to ensure each person gets 135 liters of water every day, on an average, once the project is completed.
"Decks have been cleared for construction work of Baghbera and Govindpur drinking water projects and it will be launched soon," said chief minister Raghubar Das on Sunday.
Officials in the drinking water and sanitation department (DWSD) indicated that ground work for the projects is likely to begin in the next two weeks time.
"The government's announcement has come as a huge relief to over three lakh people living in semi-urban Baghbera and Govindpur areas. We hope that these projects are completed on time to ensure sufficient drinking water during summer," said Subodh Jha, convenor of Baghbera Mahanagar Vikas Samity, the outfit that has been fighting for the project to be completed since it was announced by the state government in 2006.
According to information, 93.9% of people in Govindpur and 76.4% of people living in Baghbera will benefit from the twin projects.
Since the project was announced, a detailed project report (DPR) of these two water projects was prepared on four separate occasions but due to multiple shortcomings were disapproved by the government. However, the fifth DPR has been ratified by the department and has paved the way for construction work, said department sources.
Baghbera, Kithadih, Pursudih, Gaghidih, Khasmahal, Harhargutta, Sundernagar, Govindpur, Gadra and Chota Govindpur, among other areas, will benefit from the water project.
"By conservative estimates, project would take around 36 months for its completion (from the date of commencement). If state government plans to complete the project before the average estimated timeframe, then additional measures can be taken in this regard," said a DWSD engineer on anonymity.