Well, well, well... no surface water, third tender goes dryLudhiana civic body faces challenges in finalising contractor for surface water supply project under world bank and amrut schemes.

Ludhiana: City's plan to replace its groundwater-dependent water supply with treated canal water has hit a snag, as civic officials struggle to finalise a contractor for the pilot phase of the ₹50 crore project backed by the World Bank and AMRUT 2.0 schemes.

The Municipal Corporation has now floated tenders for the third time — after unsuccessful bids in April and May — to develop demo zones for the transition, despite construction in progress at a water treatment plant in Bilga village and associated overhead tanks. The demo zones, intended to test the system before citywide rollout, will include 14,000 homes across six localities. These zones are split between the two schemes: Jagat Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Tarsem Colony, and Silver City under the AMRUT scheme; and Urban Estate Dugri Phases 1 and 2 and Urban Estate Phases 1 and 2 along Chandigarh Road under the World Bank-funded canal water plan.

Currently, Ludhiana draws an estimated 450 million litres of water daily from underground sources via tube wells. Officials say the new surface water system will not only provide the city with a more sustainable supply but also ensure uninterrupted access throughout the day. As part of the pilot, water meters may be installed in households, although billing remains undecided. Many residents benefit from exemptions. "We want to understand usage patterns first," said an official, "and only later will the state decide if billing is necessary."

Municipal commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal said the demo zone will help address unforeseen technical challenges. "We are trying again and again to find a suitable contractor to handle this work," he said. "Hopefully, we will succeed this time." The broader goal, as civic authorities claim, is to modernise water infrastructure, improve delivery, and reduce ecological pressure on groundwater sources.

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